Final answer:
The War Powers Resolution is a law that limits the U.S. President's ability to deploy military forces without Congressional approval, requiring notification within 48 hours of deployment and withdrawal after 60 days without further authorization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The War Powers Resolution, also known as the War Powers Act, is a federal law intended to check the president's power to commit the United States to armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress. Passed in 1973 over President Richard Nixon's veto in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the law was a legislative attempt to reassert congressional authority over the decision to engage in military conflict. It stipulates that the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and sets a 60-day limit for troops to remain deployed without an explicit Congressional authorization for use of military force or a declaration of war.
Although intended to increase Congressional oversight, the resolution has often been criticized as enhancing presidential power since many conflicts do not extend beyond sixty days, allowing presidents to take military action without prior approval. Subsequent presidents have challenged the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution, arguing it encroaches on the executive branch's power to conduct foreign policy and defend the nation.