Key Takeaways:
- The US Senate has advanced a resolution to bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization.
- The resolution requires Trump to remove US armed forces from "imminent engagement" in hostilities "within or against Venezuela" without further approval from Congress.
- The vote was 52 to 47, with several Republicans breaking with the president to join every Senate Democrat in voting in favor of moving ahead.
- The resolution must be passed by both Chambers of Congress to reach Trump’s desk, and he could veto it, requiring a two-thirds majority to override.
- The vote is seen as a symbolic rebuke to Trump’s actions in Venezuela and a rare assertion of congressional authority over war and peace.
Introduction to the Resolution
The US Senate has taken a significant step towards asserting its authority over war and peace by advancing a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization. The vote on Thursday was 52 to 47, with several members of Trump’s Republican party breaking with the president to join every Senate Democrat in voting in favor of moving ahead. This resolution is a major development in the ongoing saga of US involvement in Venezuela, and it has significant implications for the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government.
The Vote and Its Implications
The vote to advance the resolution is a significant rebuke to Trump’s actions in Venezuela, which have been widely criticized as a clear-cut case of presidential overreach. The resolution will now go to a full floor debate in the Senate, where it must be passed by a majority vote before it can be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the resolution is passed by both Chambers of Congress, it will then go to Trump’s desk, where he could veto it. However, if two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote to override the veto, the resolution will become law. This would be a significant assertion of congressional authority over war and peace, and it would limit Trump’s ability to unilaterally authorize military action against Venezuela.
Reactions to the Vote
The vote has been hailed as a major victory by opponents of Trump’s actions in Venezuela. Dylan Williams, vice president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy, called the move "a major rebuke" to Trump, while Cavan Kharrazian, senior policy director for the Demand Progress advocacy group, called it "a rare ray of good news for the nation and our Constitution". Several Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Todd Young, and Josh Hawley, broke with the president to vote in favor of the resolution, drawing criticism from Trump himself. The president took to social media to express his displeasure, saying that the Republicans who voted against him "should be ashamed" and "should never be elected to office again".
The Constitutional Context
The resolution is rooted in the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to declare war. However, Congress has not declared war since World War II, and the War Powers Act of 1973 created a process for the legislative branch to rein in a president’s unilateral use of the military. Many experts argue that the Constitution only grants the president the ability to take unilateral military actions in matters of immediate self-defense or in responding to an imminent attack. Trump’s actions in Venezuela, which include the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and threats to use military force against other countries in the region, have been widely criticized as a clear-cut case of presidential overreach.
The Broader Implications
The vote has significant implications for the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government. It is a rare assertion of congressional authority over war and peace, and it could set a precedent for future conflicts. The resolution is also a rebuke to Trump’s claims that he has the authority to unilaterally authorize military action, and it underscores the importance of congressional oversight and approval in matters of war and peace. As Senator Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the chamber, said, "We must send Donald Trump a clear message on behalf of the American people, no more endless wars". The vote is a significant step towards reasserting congressional authority and ensuring that the US does not become embroiled in another endless war.
