Rep. Ritchie Torres on Pres. Trump’s Action in Iran

<p>Today, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) issued the following statement:</p>

<p>“Under the Constitution, the separation of powers is clear: Congress has the power to declare war. The President, as Commander in Chief, has the power to command the military in a war that Congress has authorized. With respect to the war in Iran, authorization has neither been sought by the President nor granted by Congress.</p>

<p>“The President cannot constitutionally wage war without congressional authorization unless the nation has been attacked, is under attack, or faces an imminent attack. None of those conditions is present here.</p>

<p>“For too long, we have operated under a theory of presidential war powers so open-ended that it lacks anything resembling a limiting principle. The issue before us is not Democrat versus Republican, nor progressive versus conservative. It is Congress versus the President. It is Article I versus Article II.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Founders did not declare independence 250 years ago to replace one king with another. Nor did the Framers intend for the Commander in Chief to wield the unilateral war-making authority of an 18th-century English monarch.</p>

<p>“The notion that a President can plunge the United States into a regional war in one of the most volatile places on earth—without even briefing Congress, much less securing its authorization—is irreconcilable with the text, structure, and history of the Constitution.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Instead of playing second fiddle to an imperial presidency, Congress must reclaim its rightful place as the first branch of government—exactly as the Founders intended. We are Article I for a reason. It is time we start acting like it.”</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/rep-ritchie-torres-on-pres-trumps-action-in-iran">Rep. Ritchie Torres on Pres. Trump’s Action in Iran</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ritchietorres.house.gov">Torres</a>.</p>