Pros And Cons Of Aummf

With such events occurring quickly in such a small time period, the second World War came as a massive shock. Yet again, Americans called for isolationism and neutrality as they believed America should focus on ending the Great Depression, not worrying about and dealing with the international issues of other nations and peoples. By analyzing Document 5, it is clear that many Americans still believe in isolationism during the Great Depression. Bennett Champ Clark states in his Defense of the First Neutrality Act that “the desire to keep the United States from becoming involved in any war between foreign nations seems practically unanimous among the rank and file of American citizens.” Americans influenced the US foreign policy yet again as the First Neutrality Act was passed in 1935. By analyzing Document 6, it is clear that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the choices he made were still influenced by isolationist sentiment as he states in his Quarantine Speech that “it is my determination to adopt every practicable measure to avoid involvement in war.” However, it is clear in President Roosevelt's speech that he knew that entering the war was inevitable as he states that the “peace of the world and the welfare and security of every nation, including our own is today being threatened by that very thing (war).” Although the United States tried its best to not enter the second World War for many years, it could not avoided by the end of 1941. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. The federal government’s response to this attack can be analyzed in Document 7, President Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address to the Congress of the United States. In response to the attack, Roosevelt calls for Congress to “declare . . . a state of war has existed between the United States and the

9/11 was a major factor in the United State’s decision to declare war on several different countries. Not even a month after 9/11 occurred, the United States sent troops to Afghanistan

on September 11, 2001 The American soil was once again attacked, in an act led by terrorism which also directed The United States into war but not a world war, but a war against terrorism.

A2: It has been acceptable to violate the constitution when engaging in wars with other countries or your own.

“When war is thrust upon the nation, the President had not only the authority but the responsibility to ‘resist force by force.’” –U.S. Supreme Court ruling of the Prize Cases, 1862 (67 U.S. 6335).

While the President was appointed as commander of the armed forces of the United States, the Constitution empowers Congress to "declare war". The president has repeatedly mobilized military forces to join the action in a war without an official declaration of war by Congress. For example, presidents Johnson and Nixon made their war-making power in the undeclared war in Vietnam, Unfortunately, this decision is irrelevant and criticized by both right and left, so Congress sets the limit on presidential power in unilateral military action. Over Nixon’s veto in 1973, the War Powers Resolution was passed by Congress to limit the president’s ability to commit troops to combat (352). According to the War Powers Resolution, the president can use groups

ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America)is a non-profit organization that is centered on empowering both professionals in the workforce and young student leaders. Although it states Latino's, the organization welcomes anyone as a member.

The question of the need for a declaration of war dates all the way back to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson sent a squadron of warships to the Mediterranean to protect U.S. shipping against the forces of the Bey of Tripoli. Jefferson's instructions to the squadron were that they act in a defensive manner only, with a strictly defined order of battle. When a Tripolitan cruiser shot at a U.S. ship, the U.S. forces seized the ship, disarmed it, and released it. Jefferson's message to Congress on the incident indicated that he felt the acts to be within constitutional bounds. Alexander Hamilton wrote to Congress and espoused his belief that since the United States did not start the conflict, the United States was in a state of war,

President George W. Bush launched what he called the “war on terror” on October 7, 2001. The U.S. military was sent to Afghanistan to get rid of the Taliban regime who helped the terrorists involved in 9/11. (History.com Staff, “President Bush Announces”). Since the start of the “war on terror”, six thousand, nine hundred fifteen American troops have died

At the beginning of the war on terror, President Bush’s handling of the situation was very popular. He insured everyone in the country that justice would be carried out and that the groups and individuals that helped with the attacks against the United States. In her paper, (Fisher) cited President Bush’s order as “any individual ‘not a United States citizen’ who the president determines that there is ‘reason to believe’ (1) ‘is or was a member of the organization known as al Qaida,’ (2) ‘has engaged in, aided or abetted, or conspired to commit, acts of international terrorism, or acts in preparation therefor, that have caused, threaten to cause, or have as their aim to cause, injury to or adverse effects on the United States, its citizens, national security, foreign policy, or economy,’ or (3) has ‘knowingly harbored one or more individuals described in subparagraph (1) and (2)’" (pg 504).

After the terrorist attack of 9/11 President George W. Bush wanted to declare war on Iraq, and chose not to wait on the approval of Congress. He made this decision not because they were a direct threat the the moment, but because they could be a possible threat a year or five from that point in time. Bush’s claims for declaring war are not reasonable by any means. Claiming that they could be a threat down the road years from now, is not a practical reason to declare war on another country, you do not have the be the one to strike first to stop a potential threat to your country. These “emergency” actions by Bush were illegal and should have caused him to be impeached.

Congress intended the War Powers Resolution to halt the diluted ability of Congress to participate in war-making decisions. The terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, however, created new complications for the separation of powers within the war powers sphere. After September 11, the United States Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force against Terrorists (AUMF). President George W. Bush began offensive campaigns against Afghanistan to neutralize the Taliban government, which controlled Afghanistan and permitted the Al Qaeda terrorist network to conduct terrorist training within the country 's borders.

Although the Constitution expressly grants the president the title of commander-in-chief, the power to give or revoke permission for military deployment to the legislative branch can only be found in the text indirectly. In article I, section 8, clause 11 of the Constitution, Congress is given the power to “declare war”. Those such as Stephen Carter, professor of law at Yale University, contend that with this power, Congress should be able to prevent war as well. Without the authority to stop a president from placing troops into areas of high contention, the ability to declare war or peace is rendered useless. Therefore, a supporting argument can be made that the WPR is not an unconstitutional check on presidential power, but rather a clarifying definition of what Congressional authority really should be

Vladeck reiterated a key fact about the AUMF which was signed into effect by President George W. Bush, which was ,“The AUMF authorized the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or person he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons”. This statement proved a lot of civilians wrong. There are Rules of Engagement that we all have to abide by, even the President. But at the end of the day, all orders are set by President of the United States and are acted on by the United States Armed

Bush's request to declare war in response to the attack on September 11, 2001 (The White House, 2001).