Frank Carlucci Quotes

The Congress decides when to make war and the President decides how to make war.

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.

Since the enactment of the War Powers Act in 1973, which I supported then and support now, Congress has been reluctant to assert its authority when presidents decide to send American soldiers into harm's way.

But do I think that our actions in anyway violate the War Powers Resolution, the answer is no.

I question the Constitutional authority of the President to conscript unwilling Americans and send them abroad without a declaration of war by the Congress.

The power to make war is vested in Congress and not in the President. Congress has no constitutional authority to grant such authority to the president.

Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion … and you allow him to make war at pleasure. … If today he thinks it necessary to invade Canada to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may see no probability he would say to you, “Be silent!, I see if you don’t.”

When the President decides to go to war, he no longer needs a declaration of war from congress.

I cannot think of any circumstances in which a government can go to war without the support of parliament.

The War Powers Act requires presidents to seek the consent of the American people, through their representatives, before sending our troops into war. It is the responsibility of Congress to deliberate and consult with the executive branch before involving ourselves in a military conflict.

The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is the role of Congress to debate and authorize this before the President acts precipitously.

Under our Constitution the Congress alone has the power to declare war.

President’s don’t have the authority to go to war.

Since the 1st World War, U. S. Presidents have 18 times asked the Congress for authority to go to war or use military force. The Presidents have never been turned down by Congress.

The authority to declare war rests in Congress, not in an out-of-control president.

The respective powers of the President and Congress of the United States, in the case of war with foreign powers are yet undetermined. Perhaps they can never be defined.

The way I read the Constitution,. the Congress is paid a salary to determine whether we should go to war ... Therefore, I don't think Congress is earning its money.

As the Executive cannot decide the question of war on the affirmative side, neither ought it do so on the negative side by preventing the competent body [Congress] from deliberating on the question.

The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war and most prone to it.

We have not found a way to give Congress control without depriving the President of essential power.

It’s damn easy to get into a war, but damned harder to extricate yourself once you get in.

We must not allow any president to unleash the dogs of war at his own discretion and for an unlimited period of time.

Unfortunately, since its passage in 1973, the War Powers Resolution has been stripped of its original purpose and has instead served as a temporary, de facto authorization for the executive branch to use military force whenever it deems it necessary.

When the president acts in absence of a congressional grant of authority, he can rely only upon his own independent powers. When the president takes measures incompatible with the express or implied will of Congress, his power is at its lowest ebb.

We are not at war with Egypt. We are in an armed conflict.