Congressional war power endangered. (Insider Report).(Brief Article)

On September 19, 2002, President Bush requested Congress to support his efforts to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq. On October 3rd, when the request came before the House International Relations Committee chaired by Illinois Republican Henry Hyde, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) sought to amend it by adding a declaration of war. Dr. Paul explained that he intended to vote against his own amendment but wanted congressmen who supported going to war against Iraq to satisfy the Constitution's "declaration of war" requirement. "I attempted to force the committee to follow the Constitution and vote to declare war with Iraq," he said.

As part of his response to the Texan's proposal, Chairman Hyde stated: "There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. Declaration of war is one.... These things are no longer relevant to a modem society." He termed the call for a return to the clear meaning of the Constitution "inappropriate, anachronistic." Committee Minority Leader Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) agreed with Hyde and said, "I detect of touch of frivolity and mischief" in Paul's amendment. Congressman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) also agreed and announced his support for the president's request because, by itself, ...