| ID | 120407 |
| Title Proper | Libya and American war powers |
| Other Title Information | war-making decisions in the United States |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Hendrickson, Ryan C |
| Publication | 2013. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | During the United States' military strikes in Libya in 2011, the debate over the authority to use force reached levels not experienced in recent American history. Many members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, expressed concern over what they viewed as a usurpation of Congress's constitutional war powers. These concerns were exacerbated when the Obama administration maintained that it was not engaged in 'hostilities' and that the War Powers Resolution, which was intended to limit the president's war authority, did not apply to this use of force. Yet despite the strong levels of bipartisan constitutional pressure waged against the commander in chief, these efforts were generally discouraged, co-opted or simply opposed by the House and Senate leadership. This research examines the role of Congress's institutional and party leaders, specifically Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), and Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ), and finds that their leadership was instrumental in keeping Congress's war powers authority subdued, which limited congressional interference in President Obama's military actions in Libya. Understanding these political dynamics is crucial to understanding when and how the world's sole superpower commits to overseas military actions. |
| `In' analytical Note | Global Change Peace and Security Vol. 25, No.2; Jun 2013: p.175-189 |
| Journal Source | Global Change Peace and Security Vol. 25, No.2; Jun 2013: p.175-189 |
| Key Words | United States ; Obama ; Libya ; War Powers ; Congress |