War Powers
96 Articles

Legal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Notice to Congress on “Armed Conflict” with Drug Cartels
The Trump administration’s “armed conflict” justification, however, is groundless.

Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers
Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.

Murder by Drone: The Legal and Moral Stakes of the Caribbean Strikes
If allowed to go unchecked, the Caribbean strikes could encourage additional unlawful executions by the United States and other leaders.

The Many Ways in Which the September 2 Caribbean Strike was Unlawful … and the Grave Line the Military Has Crossed
A deep dive into US domestic authority and law most relevant to the US strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat.

The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas? What You Need to Know about the U.S. Strike on the Caribbean Vessel
Rebecca Ingber and Brian Finucane join Tess Bridgeman to unpack what you need to know about the U.S. strike on a purported drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean.

Using Labels, Not Law, to Justify Lethal Force: Inside the Venezuelan Boat Strike
Applying a new label to an old problem does not transform the problem. Nor does it grant the U.S. president or the U.S. military expanded legal authority to kill civilians.

Congress Shrinking from the World: the Constitution’s Article I in the Shadow of Trump 2.0
Congress has revealed itself less as a coequal branch and more as an accomplice in the marginalization of its own constitutional role in foreign and national security policy.

The U.S. Attack on Iran Was Unconstitutional
Trump’s strike on Iran violated constitutional limits on the president's unilateral power to take the nation to war—an authority the Framers reserved for Congress.

The Trump Administration’s Flawed War Powers Report on Iran and the Need for a Congressional Rebuttal
The White House’s legal justifications for attacking Iran are unconvincing and raise concerns about unauthorized use of force. Congress should push back.

The Day After U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Program: A Policy and Legal Assessment
An expert policy and legal assessment of the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and what comes next.

Top Experts’ Backgrounder: Military Action Against Iran and US Domestic Law
Experts who advised a president on use of force answer a full range of basic questions on the conditions under which action against Iran would be lawful, and what options Congress…

What are “Wartime Authorities” and When Can the President Use Them? An Expert Q&A
It is essential to understand the line between war and peace, scrutinize the application of wartime powers, and interrogate the president’s assertions when he triggers them.