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From: tos@psc70.UUCP (Dr.Schlesinger)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.legal
Subject: Re: Making War
Message-ID: <178@psc70.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Mar-86 05:34:31 EST
Article-I.D.: psc70.178
Posted: Wed Mar 26 05:34:31 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 31-Mar-86 08:16:46 EST
References: <1753@decwrl.DEC.COM> <106@cad.UUCP>, <2035@psuvax1.UUCP>
Organization: Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH
Lines: 17
Xref: linus net.politics:13545 net.legal:2905


    The postings on this topic seem oblivious of the existence of the
War Powers Act, which significantly affects the relationship between
the President and the Congress in this regard.
    As a practical matter the Constitutional provision regarding the
power of the Congress to "declare war" has been relatively meaningless
since the US signed the United Nations Charter. The latter outlaws any
use of force except self-defense or as part of either UN or regional
multi-national peacekeeping force. None of these exceptions are likely
to occur in circumstances which have in the past been deemed to
require a declaration of war -- or to even appropriately call for one.


Tom Schlesinger
Plymouth State College
Plymouth, N.H. 03264
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