It says that the president should inform Congress of his intention to send troops abroad within 48 hours.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution .
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution expanded the powers of the President by giving him the authority to take military action in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war from Congress. This resolution effectively allowed the President to escalate US involvement in the Vietnam War without needing explicit permission from Congress. It is considered a significant expansion of executive power and has been used as a precedent for future military actions without congressional approval.
Military powers, treaties; appointments and temporary appointments
By the War Powers Resolution. The President's war making power is limited by the Constitutional provision that only Congress has the power to declare war even though the President is the commander in chief of the armed forces. The War Powers Act actually increases rather than limits the President's power in military matters by allowing him to deploy troops in combat for a only for a limited period of time without a declaration of war by Congress.
The War Powers Act or War Power Resolution was the first law passed intending to define and limit the powers the President of the United States possessed.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution .
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964 gave U.S. President Johnson any military force necessary to protect U.S. interests. The "War Powers Resolution" in 1973, which over-rode President Nixon's veto, restricted the President's power, without "Congressional Approval." The WPR was brought about by President Nixon's ground campaigns in Cambodia & Laos in 1970 and 1971, respectively.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 is an attempt to set such limits. There is a question about its constitutionality. It has not been upheld by the Supreme Court and presidents do not always obey it.
The president is the commander-in-chief over all military powers in the US. He consults with the military chiefs of staff but he is the commander and they serve at his will. Congress determines what the military will be and appropriates the funding for it.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution expanded the powers of the President by giving him the authority to take military action in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war from Congress. This resolution effectively allowed the President to escalate US involvement in the Vietnam War without needing explicit permission from Congress. It is considered a significant expansion of executive power and has been used as a precedent for future military actions without congressional approval.
President Nixon's alleged abuse of authority in The Vietnam War led to the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
The President has broad constitutional power to take military action in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Congress has acknowledged this inherent executive power in both the War Powers Resolution and the Joint Resolution passed by Congress on September 14, 2001.
If only Congress held military powers, then any action would be too slow; with the president holding military powers, a quick, immediate response could be made without political squabbling.
Military powers, treaties; appointments and temporary appointments
Richard Nixon
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. 1541-1548) was a United States Congress joint resolution providing that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was a United States Congress join resolution providing that the President can send U.S. Armed Forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.