The War Powers Act

The War Powers Act, enacted in 1973, is a U.S. law that limits the president's ability to commit American forces to armed conflicts without congressional approval. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and restricts military engagement to 60 days unless Congress authorizes further action or declares war. The goal is to ensure shared responsibility between the executive and legislative branches in decisions about war, preventing the president from unilaterally starting prolonged military conflicts without legislative oversight.