This paper examines the War Powers Act and the constitutional authority to make war. The author concludes that, while flawed,
the War Powers Act is absolutely necessary to curb presidential war-making power. From the paper: "The president and Congress have often battled over foreign policy issues, especially those relating to war. Article II of the
Constitution makes the president commander in chief, responsible for the operation of the military in the field. Article I places the
responsibility for declaring war solely in the hands of the Congress. This should be seen not only as giving Congress the power to make war but the responsibility to prevent unnecessary conflict. This arrangement was rarely challenged until after World War II. In 1950, Harry Truman used a United Nations resolution as justification for sending American troops to Korea and began a half century of presidents side-stepping congressional power to prevent war."