Congressional Prerogative Quotes

The Constitution's pretty clear. The Federalist papers are pretty clear... They very specifically delegated the power to declare war to Congress. They wanted this to be a congressional decision; they did not want war to be engaged in by the executive without approval of Congress.

The authority of Congress must be respected …. The President must confine himself to his executive duties—to obey and execute, not make the laws.

The Constitution is clear, Article I, Section 8, power vetted in Congress to declare war. If you go back to the founding documents of this nation, the decision of going to war was to be made by people closest to the ground - the elected officials - to make those decisions.

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

The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.

[Then a congressman:] Were I President, I should desire the legislation of the country to rest with Congress, uninfluenced by the executive in its origin or progress.

… the most disastrous blow ever struck at the constitutional power of Congress

It is plain that, when it comes to inferior officers, Congress itself can pass a law sending these nominees to the President with him having the authority to put them on the bench without the advice and consent of the Senate.

It should be remembered that the president cannot, by executive order, do things that affects the public at large unless there is some Congressional basis for it.

The Constitution grants only Congress - not the president - the power 'to borrow money on the credit of the United States.'

I respect the Congress's oversight responsibility.

The Obama administration demonstrated time and again a disturbing willingness to bypass the separation of powers and disregard Congress as a Constitutional watchdog.

We do all the appropriating. They do not do any of it down at the White House. They send a budget up here, and we don't have to pay any attention it to at all. We do what we want to do.

Congress keeps outwitting its rules.