Executive Power
The Syria War Powers Memo: Why It Matters
Justin Florence, Allison Murphy Wed, Feb 14, 2018, 4:12 PM
Why the government should release the Syria War Powers memo.
Latest in War Powers Resolution
Executive Power
Summary: Lawsuit to Release the Legal Justification of Syria Airstrikes
Chris Mirasola Wed, Feb 14, 2018, 3:53 PM
Nearly one year after the Trump administration's April 2017 strike in Syria, Protect Democracy is still suing for public release of the legal justification behind the strike.
Executive Power
Documents: FOIA Suit on the Legal Basis of Syrian Airstrikes
Quinta Jurecic Fri, Feb 9, 2018, 2:28 PM
In May 2017, the nonprofit Protect Democracy filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the Trump administration's legal justification behind the U.S. airstrikes in Syria during April of that year. The litigation produced proof of a seven-page legal memo analyzing the legal basis for the strikes, which the Justice Department has not yet released.
Executive Power
What’s the Legal Basis for the Syria Strikes? The Administration Must Acknowledge Limits on its Power to Start a War
Justin Florence Mon, May 8, 2017, 12:44 PM
Project Democracy has filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the President's legal justification for his administration's strikes against a Syrian airbase.
War Powers Resolution
Close Enough: The Quiet Conclusion of the Combat-Equipped Deployment to Uganda
Robert Chesney Tue, Apr 18, 2017, 11:54 AM
A few weeks ago, AFRICOM quietly brought to an end a five-year-old combat-equipped deployment that for a time had raised some very interesting War Powers Resolution questions.
War Powers
President Trump's War Powers Report on the Syria Attacks
John Bellinger Sat, Apr 8, 2017, 3:08 PM
With six hours to spare before the 48-hour deadline in section 4 of the War Powers Resolution, the White House has sent the President's report to Congress on Thursday evening's missile attacks on Syria.
The text is here:
THE WHITE HOUSE
War Powers
A Response to the Government's Brief in Capt. Smith v. Obama
Bruce Ackerman Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 4:48 PM
The government has just filed its brief responding to Captain Smith’s challenge to the president’s unilateral war against ISIS.
War Powers
The ISIS Lawsuit and the Perverse Effects of National Security Litigation
Rebecca Ingber Fri, May 13, 2016, 2:12 PM
These kinds of advocacy lawsuits against the President in the national security arena often have perverse effects on the resulting law. The intent is generally to force constraints onto the executive branch, but the further along this lawsuit gets, the greater the risk it will result in less, rather than more, accountability and constraint on the Executive’s power.
War Powers
The War Against ISIS is Unconstitutional
Bruce Ackerman Thu, May 5, 2016, 2:10 PM
An outline of the key points in the complaint submitted by Captain Nathan Smith challenging the legality of President Obama's war against the Islamic State.
War Powers
The Obama WPR Letters, 2009-2015
Michael Knapp Wed, Jan 20, 2016, 12:46 PM
President Obama has sent 39 letters to Congress “consistent with” the War Powers Resolution requirements. The letters are a fascinating read and provide a 30,000-foot view of the Administration’s use of military force abroad.