[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRESS MUST CHECK RAW POWER OF EXECUTIVE

  (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, when Members of Congress take an oath to 
defend the Constitution of the United States, that includes defending 
article I, section 8 which says that only Congress shall have the power 
to declare war.
  The administration is proceeding with plans to invade Iraq, first 
with an air attack and then with an invasion of 250,000 ground troops. 
Yet there has been no consultation with this Congress, there has been 
no debate in this Congress, and there has been no vote in this 
Congress.
  The American constitutional experience relies on a separation of 
power. It depends upon Congress being willing to check the raw exercise 
of power by the executive. Wake up, Congress. We are on the verge of a 
major war in Iraq and the administration is ignoring our Constitution. 
Wake up, America. Our sons and daughters are about to be called to 
fight a war in Iraq, without any debate, without any sense of purpose, 
without any sense of direction, and with grave jeopardy.

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