Question

The war powers of the president are controversial and have been disputed throughout history. What sort of disputes between the president and Congress led to passing the War Powers Act resolution of 1973?

a) Disputes over military spending
b) Disputes over the use of nuclear weapons
c) Disputes over the power to declare war
d) Disputes over trade agreements

Answer 1

The War Powers Act of 1973 was passed in response to disputes over the power to declare war, as presidents had been engaging in military conflicts without formal declarations from Congress. The act requires presidential notification to Congress when troops are committed and limits their deployment without congressional approval to 60 days.

Step-by-step explanation:

The disputes between the president and Congress that led to the passing of the War Powers Act resolution of 1973 were primarily about the power to declare war (c). The Act was a response to the executive branch's increased military engagement without formal declarations of war from Congress, most notably during the Vietnam War. The War Powers Act aimed to reassert congressional authority by requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing troops and to withdraw them after 60 days unless Congress authorized the action or declared war.

The resolution arose due to Congress's concern with the growing use of presidential military power, as presidents since World War II had engaged in conflicts such as Korea, Vietnam, and other military campaigns without seeking declarative support from Congress. The controversial nature of presidential war powers and the balance between executive and legislative authority in this realm is a recurring theme in American politics.