A look at recent conflicts which were — or were not — authorized by Congress.

It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy.

What are a U.S. president’s war powers?
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews ([link removed])
Correspondent
With a drone strike Friday, President Donald Trump authorized the killing of a prominent Iranian military figure--Qassem Soleimani-- and also reopened a potentially explosive debate about when presidents can use their military power without approval from Congress.

This week, we expect the House of Representatives to pass a resolution aimed at limiting the president’s power to engage militarily with Iran. It is not expected to pass the Senate.As that debate swirls, we thought it might be helpful to look at recent conflicts which were—or were not—authorized by Congress.

First, some important terms that you will likely hear more this week: (They’re key to this discussion)

Article II powers - this is a reference to the president’s powers enumerated in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Article II designates the president as the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military.

War powers resolution - this can be a broad term, referring to an act of Congress intended to grant, or more often limit, broad war powers of the president. But it also is a phrase used to describe the 1973 War Powers Act, ([link removed]) which set Congressional guidelines for the president’s deployment of military force.

Authority to Use Military Force - this is a resolution passed by each house of Congress which grants a president specific powers to launch military action, often against a specific group or location.

Recent major hostilities and authorization or lack thereof:
* Korean War. 1950 - 1953.
+ No Congressional authorization.
+ 1.7 million U.S. troops deployed in theater.

* Vietnam War. 1964 - 1974.
+ No Congressional authorization.
+ 3.4 million U.S. troops deployed in theater.

* Gulf War. 1991.
+ Authorization for Use of Military Force granted by Congress.
+ House 250-183. Senate 52-47.
+ 500,000 U.S. troops sent to Persian Gulf.

* War on Terror. 2001 - present.
+ Authorization for Use of Military Force granted by Congress.
+ House 420 - 1 ([link removed]) . Senate 98 - 0. ([link removed])
+ Initially included 775,000 troops sent to Afghanistan.

* Iraq War. 2002.
+ Authorization for Use of Military Force granted by Congress.
+ House 296 - 133 ([link removed]) . Senate 77 - 23 ([link removed]) .
+ 170,000 U.S. troops at peak deployment in Iraq.

FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK

By Alex D’Elia, @ ([link removed]) AlexDEliaNews ([link removed])
Politics production assistant

Pence links Suleimani to 9/11. The public record doesn’t back him. ([link removed]) -- Jan. 3. The Vice President said in a tweet that Soleimani aided the terrorists who carried out the attacks of September 11, 2001. Why it matters: The claim does not match public intelligence on the attacks of 9/11.-- The New York Times

Julián Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren, days after ending his campaign ([link removed]) -- Jan. 6. The former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development dropped out of the 2020 Democratic primary race last week and endorsed the Senator from Massachusetts this week. Why it matters: The endorsement is one of the firsts to come rom a high-profile onetime 2020 candidate. -- NPR

U.S. could begin deporting Mexican asylum seekers to Guatemala ([link removed]) -- Jan. 6. Expanding the administration’s asylum deal with Guatemala that was originally brokered in July, the move means that Guatemala will accept Mexican asylum seekers. Why it matters: Though the majority of asylum seekers crossing the U.S. border have been from Northern Triangle countries since 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures show that most of the migrants taken into custody in the fall of 2019 were Mexican. -- The Wall Street Journal

Pompeo won't run for Senate in Kansas ([link removed]) -- Jan. 6. The Secretary of State told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he would not run for retiring Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat in Kansas this November. Why it matters: The news comes as a large number of Republicans in Congress announce retirements and the GOP looks to maintain control of the Senate. -- POLITICO

Trump, Bloomberg each spend an estimated $10 million for 60 seconds of Super Bowl ads ([link removed]) -- Jan. 7. The two candidates will spend big on advertising -- characteristic of their campaigns thus far -- on the February 2nd event. Why it matters: The large purchases emphasize the power of money in politics to reach a national audience. -- The Washington Post


#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke ([link removed])
Politics producer

On this day in 1999, the five-week-long Senate trial in the impeachment of President Clinton began.

Our question: Who were the Senate minority and majority leaders at the time?

Send your answers to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.

Last time, we asked a question inspired by our December debate: The first televised presidential debate in U.S. history was between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. Many things were different back then, but a big one was the pace of the debate compared to today. For example, there were no time limits for the candidates' responses. Our question: What was the time limit for their opening statements?

Answer: Eight minutes!

Congratulations to our winner: Steve Brydon!

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.

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