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The article discusses issues for the U.S. Congress arising from the President's introduction of troops into situations of potential hostilities overseas. An immediate issue is whether to invoke Section 4(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution (WPR) and trigger a durational limit for the action unless prolonged by Congressional authorization. A longer term issue is whether to repeal or amend the WPR based on its deemed effectiveness in foreign policy. Key related legislative actions are also cited.

The article discusses the U.S. involvement in Libya which has raised issues in compliance with the War Powers Resolution (WPR). It outlines President Obama's 2011 report to Congress of U.S. military action in Libya in response to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, the memorandum opinion issued by the Office of Legal Council prior to the commencement of U.S. military operations and Congressional actions which seek to clarify U.S. involvement in diffusing the Libyan crisis.

Two separate but closely related issues confront Congress each time the President introduces armed forces into a situation abroad that conceivably could lead to their involvement in hostilities. One issue concerns the division of war powers between the President and Congress, whether the use of armed forces falls within the purview of the congressional power to declare war and the War Powers Resolution (WPR). The other issue is whether or not Congress concurs in the wisdom of the action. This report does not deal with the substantive merits of using armed forces in specific cases, but rather with congressional authorization for military action, and the application and effectiveness of the WPR. The purpose of the WPR (P.L. 93-148, passed over President Nixon's veto on November 7, 1973) is to ensure that Congress and the President share in making decisions that may get the United States involved in hostilities. Compliance becomes an issue whenever the President introduces U.S. forces abroad in situations that might be construed as hostilities or imminent hostilities. Criteria for compliance include prior consultation with Congress, fulfillment of the reporting requirements, and congressional authorization. If the President has not complied fully, the issue becomes what action Congress should take to bring about compliance or to influence U.S. policy. A related issue has been congressional authorization of U.N. peacekeeping or other U.N.-sponsored actions. For over three decades, war powers and the War Powers Resolution have been an issue in U.S. military actions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central America, and Europe. Presidents have submitted 125 reports to Congress as a result of the War Powers Resolution, although only one (the Mayaguez situation) cited Section 4(a)(1) or specifically stated that forces had been introduced into hostilities or imminent hostilities. Congress invoked the WPR in the Multinational Force in Lebanon Resolution (P.L. 98-119). . . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses U.S. military involvement in Haiti which raised issues in compliance with War Powers Resolution (WPR). It provides a background on the United Nations' vote to restore sanctions against Haiti in 1993 and the report submitted to Congress by President Clinton, in compliance with WPR, to seek congressional authorization and funding for U.S. action. Congressional actions in line with U.S. involvement and details on the ensuing U.S. military involvement in Haiti are discussed.

The article discusses U.S. involvement in post 1991 Iraq which raised the issue of Congressional authorization in compliance with the War Powers Resolution (WPR). It outlines continuing situations in Iraq since the end of Desert Storm which raised the issue of congressional authorization under WPR, other situations reported by President Clinton on U.S. military actions in Iraq in compliance with United Nations resolutions and U.S. Congressional actions to define U.S. involvement in Iraq.

The article discusses issues for U.S. Congress arising from the participation of U.S. military forces in a United Nations operation commencing in December 1992 to protect humanitarian assistance in Somalia. A major issue for Congress was whether to authorize U.S. action as controversy intensified over the operation. A summary of legislative actions made from February 1993 to the withdrawal of U.N. forces from Somalia in March 1995 is also cited.

The article discusses U.S. military involvement in the former Yugoslavia and Bosnia which has raised issues in compliance with the War Powers Resolution (WPR). U.S. action in support of United Nations efforts to halt fighting in the former territory of Yugoslavia raised the issue of war powers and congressional authorization, as some U.S. action was undertaken within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Congressional actions on U.S. involvement in the former Yugoslavian republic are cited.

The article cites U.S. overseas military operations from January to June 2012 reported by the U.S. President to Congress consistent with the War Powers Resolution (WPR). Among the operations reported are in support of U.S. counterterrorism objectives against al-Qa'ida, Taliban and associated forces in the Middle East and Africa and the deployment of U.S. combat-equipped military personnel to Uganda to serve as advisors to apprehend or remove Joseph Kony and other Lord's Resistance Army leaders.