1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
The Power to Start, Conduct, and End Wars: The Ongoing Constitutional Debate Over War Powers
As the nature of war morphs from defined conflicts waged by states against other states to open-ended conflicts in which non-state actors are also involved, this is an ideal time to discuss the long-debated constitutional questions as to which branch of government has the power to start, conduct, and end wars. The War Powers Resolution passed by Congress to reign in executive power in the aftermath of the Vietnam War has largely been ignored. As the Iraq War and War on Terror continues, Congress and the President have openly disputed each others' war powers, and the courts have taken a more active role in resolving how America may conduct wars but have steered clear of disputes over the power to begin or end wars. Join moderator former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher '49 and a panel of leading constitutional law scholars as they discuss these important and timely issues.