War Powers Act

The War Powers Act, enacted in 1973, is a U.S. federal law designed to check the president's ability to engage military forces without congressional approval. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and limits such military action to 60 days, with an additional 30-day withdrawal period, unless Congress authorizes further action. The intent is to ensure that both the executive and legislative branches share responsibility for decisions regarding military conflict, reflecting the importance of congressional oversight in matters of war and peace.