The Role of Congress in National Security

The President has the power to negotiate treaties, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

The War Powers Resolution was passed in 1973 in response to the Vietnam War. It requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing troops to armed conflict and prohibits the President from keeping troops in combat for more than 60 days without congressional approval.

Congress approves the overall level of military spending through the annual appropriations process. However, the President has the authority to allocate the funds as he sees fit.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee the military. It can investigate the military and hold hearings on military matters, it can pass laws that regulate the military, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for military leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee intelligence agencies. It can investigate intelligence agencies and hold hearings on intelligence matters, it can pass laws that regulate intelligence agencies, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for intelligence leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee homeland security. It can pass laws that create and fund homeland security agencies, it can investigate homeland security agencies and hold hearings on homeland security matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for homeland security leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee cybersecurity. It can pass laws that create and fund cybersecurity agencies, it can investigate cybersecurity agencies and hold hearings on cybersecurity matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for cybersecurity leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee counterterrorism. It can pass laws that create and fund counterterrorism agencies, it can investigate counterterrorism agencies and hold hearings on counterterrorism matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for counterterrorism leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee arms control. It can pass laws that regulate arms control, it can investigate arms control agencies and hold hearings on arms control matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for arms control leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee nonproliferation. It can pass laws that regulate nonproliferation, it can investigate nonproliferation agencies and hold hearings on nonproliferation matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for nonproliferation leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee export controls. It can pass laws that regulate export controls, it can investigate export control agencies and hold hearings on export control matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for export control leadership positions.

Congress has a number of ways to oversee foreign aid. It can pass laws that regulate foreign aid, it can investigate foreign aid agencies and hold hearings on foreign aid matters, and it can approve or reject the President's nominations for foreign aid leadership positions.