With a 60⁄100 senator majority, The Senate can declare war. [3]
^3: Defensive wars will probably receive a high vote no matter what. And America seems to have made an oopsie when it comes to 2⁄4 of its last offensive wars, which should merit the caution. I’d raise the bar higher but then you run the risk of The Senate figuring out a way to declare war without declaring war.
It’s important to note that none of the US wars since World War 2 have involved a formal declaration of war. Korea was a “police action”, endorsed by a UN resolution. Vietnam was justified by the Gulf Of Tonkin resolution. The Gulf War was, like Korea, endorsed by the United Nations, as were the interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Afghanistan was justified by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, another joint resolution. The 2003 Iraq War was justified by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed the House of Representatives with a 416-0 vote, and the Senate with a 88-2 vote. The Authorization for the Use of Military Force passed the House of Representatives with a 420-1 vote and the Senate with a 98-0 vote. The Authorization for the Use of Military Force In Iraq, by far the most controversial of the three, passed the House of Representatives with 296-1 vote and the Senate with a 77-23 vote.
I don’t think your proposal meaningfully limits the US’s willingness or ability to engage in offensive war.
It’s important to note that none of the US wars since World War 2 have involved a formal declaration of war. Korea was a “police action”, endorsed by a UN resolution. Vietnam was justified by the Gulf Of Tonkin resolution. The Gulf War was, like Korea, endorsed by the United Nations, as were the interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Afghanistan was justified by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, another joint resolution. The 2003 Iraq War was justified by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed the House of Representatives with a 416-0 vote, and the Senate with a 88-2 vote. The Authorization for the Use of Military Force passed the House of Representatives with a 420-1 vote and the Senate with a 98-0 vote. The Authorization for the Use of Military Force In Iraq, by far the most controversial of the three, passed the House of Representatives with 296-1 vote and the Senate with a 77-23 vote.
I don’t think your proposal meaningfully limits the US’s willingness or ability to engage in offensive war.
Didn’t know any of that lol. I’ll remove the portion.