U.S. Congress Overrides Presidential Veto to Pass the War Powers Act.

The War Powers Act of 1973 emerged as an effort to limit the power of the U.S. executive to make or declare war without congressional authorization before committing American forces overseas. Under Article I, section 8, of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the right to declare war and raise troops, but Article II, section 2, states that the president acts as commander in chief. The division of powers between the legislative and executive branches became blurred with the outbreak of World War II and the escalation of the Cold War throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. Congress wanted more cooperation between the executive and legislative branches in determining foreign policy decisions as the Vietnam conflict progressed.