[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 29, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H2037-H2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. AMASH:
       H.R. 1212.

[[Page H2038]]

       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, of the United States Constitution 
     states that Congress shall have the power ``To declare War,'' 
     ``To raise and support Armies,'' ``To provide and maintain a 
     Navy,'' and ``To make Rules for the Government and Regulation 
     of the land and naval Forces.'' Although the Constitution's 
     Article II, Section 2 designates the President as ``Commander 
     in Chief,'' that title does not empower the President to 
     order congressionally unauthorized force when the United 
     States has not been attacked or is not in imminent danger of 
     attack. This bill reclaims Congress's core constitutional 
     prerogative to control when offensive military force is used.