Just days after our war-mongering president came to Monticello, a commission established to address over-reaching like his has released its recommendations today. Impaneled by UVA’s Miller Center in February 2007 and helmed by two former secretaries of state, James A. Baker III and Warren Christopher, the National War Powers Commission concluded that the War Powers Resolution of 1973 has failed to promote cooperation between the federal and executive branches of government and recommended that Congress pass a new statute—the War Powers Consultation Act of 2009—that would establish a clear process on decisions to go to war.
Specifically, the War Powers Act of 2009 would mandate that the president consult with Congress before deploying U.S. troops into “significant armed conflict,” define exactly what would be considered “significant armed conflicts,” and calls on Congress to vote up or down on significant armed conflicts within 30 days.
“This statute does not attempt to resolve the constitutional questions that have dominated the debate over the war powers, and does not prejudice the president or Congress their right or ability to assert their respective constitutional war powers,” said Baker, an advisor to Dubya on the Iraq War. “What we aim to do with this statute is to create a process that will encourage the two branches to cooperate and consult in a way that is both practical and true to the spirit of the Constitution.”
A war powers commission helmed by James Baker made its recommendations today.