[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 3, Chapters 10 - 14]
[Chapter 13. Powers and Prerogatives of the House]
[B. War Powers]
[Â§ 7. Senate Action]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 1801-1806]
 
                               CHAPTER 13
 
                  Powers and Prerogatives of the House
 
                             B. WAR POWERS
 
Sec. 7. Senate Action

On Japan

Sec. 7.1 The Senate by yea and nay vote unanimously agreed to a Senate 
    joint resolution declaring a state of war between the United States 
    and the Imperial Government of Japan.

    On Dec. 8, 1941,(12) the Senate by a vote of yeas 82, 
nays 0, agreed to Senate Joint Resolution 116, declaring a state of war 
between the United States and the Imperial Government of 
Japan.(13)
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12. 87 Cong. Rec. 9505, 9506, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
13. See 11. 1, infra, for the President's request for this declaration, 
        and Sec. 6.1, supra, for House approval of the joint 
        resolution.
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        Mr. [Tom T.] Connally [of Texas]: Mr. President, I introduce a 
    joint resolution, and ask for its immediate consideration without 
    reference to a committee.
        The Vice President: (14) The joint resolution will 
    be read.
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14. John N. Garner (Tex.).
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        The joint resolution (S.J. Res. 116) declaring that a state of 
    war exists between the Imperial Government of

[[Page 1802]]

    Japan and the Government and the people of the United States and 
    making provision to prosecute the same, was read the first time by 
    its title, and the second time at length, as follows:

            Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed 
        unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of 
        the United States of America: Therefore be it
            Resolved, etc., That the state of war between the United 
        States and the Imperial Government of Japan which has thus been 
        thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared. . . 
        .

        The Vice President: Is there objection to the present 
    consideration of the joint resolution?
        There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
    joint resolution.
        Mr. Connally: Mr. President, on the passage of the resolution I 
    ask for the yeas and nays.
        The yeas and nays were ordered. . . .
        Mr. Connally: . . . I therefore ask for the yeas and nays on 
    the passage of the joint resolution.
        The Vice President: If there be no amendment proposed, the 
    question is on the engrossment and third reading of the joint 
    resolution.
        The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed for a third 
    reading and was read the third time.
        The Vice President: The joint resolution having been read three 
    times, the question is, Shall it pass? On that question the yeas 
    and nays have been demanded and ordered. The clerk will call the 
    roll.
        The Chief Clerk proceeded to call the roll.
        The result was announced--yeas 82, nays 0, as follows: . . .
        So the joint resolution was passed.

On Germany

Sec. 7.2 The Senate by yea and nay vote unanimously agreed to a Senate 
    joint resolution declaring a state of war between the United States 
    and the Government of Germany.

    On Dec. 11, 1941,(15) the Senate by a yea and nay vote 
of yeas 88, nays 0, agreed to Senate Joint Resolution 119, declaring a 
state of war between the United States and the Government of 
Germany.(16)
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15. 87 Cong. Rec. 9652, 9653, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
16. See Sec. 11.2, infra, for the President's request for a declaration 
        of war, and Sec. 6.2, supra, for House approval.
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        Mr. Connally, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported 
    an original joint resolution ( S.J. Res. 119) declaring that a 
    state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the 
    Government and the people of the United States, and making 
    provision to prosecute the same, which was read the first time by 
    its title, and the second time at length, as follows:

            Whereas the Government of Germany has formally declared war 
        against the Government and the people of the United States of 
        America: Therefore be it
            Resolved, etc., That the state of war between the United 
        States and

[[Page 1803]]

        the Government of Germany, which has thus been thrust upon the 
        United States, is hereby formally declared. . . .

        Mr. [Tom T.] Connally [of Texas]: Mr. President, I shall 
    presently ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration of 
    the joint resolution just read to the Senate. Before the request is 
    submitted, however, I desire to say that, being advised of the 
    declaration of war upon the United States by the Governments of 
    Germany and Italy, and anticipating a message by the President of 
    the United States in relation thereto, and after a conference with 
    the Secretary of State, as chairman of the Committee on Foreign 
    Relations, I called a meeting of the committee this morning and 
    submitted to the committee the course I expected to pursue as 
    chairman and the request which I expected to make.
        I am authorized by the Committee on Foreign Relations to say to 
    the Senate that after consideration of the text of the joint 
    resolution which I have reported and after mature consideration of 
    all aspects of this matter, the membership of the Committee on 
    Foreign Relations unanimously approve and agree to the course 
    suggested. One member of the committee was absent, but I have 
    authority to express his views.
        Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the present 
    consideration of the joint resolution.
        The Vice President: (17) Is there objection?
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17. John N. Garner (Tex.).
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        There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
    joint resolution (S.J. Res. 119) declaring that a state of war 
    exists between the Government of Germany and the Government and the 
    people of the United States, and making provision to prosecute the 
    same.
        The Vice President: The question is on the engrossment and 
    third reading of the joint resolution.
        The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed for a third 
    reading, and was read the third time.
        The Vice President: The joint resolution having been read the 
    third time, the question is, Shall it pass?
        Mr. Connally: On that question I ask for the yeas and nays.
        The yeas and nays were ordered, and the Chief Clerk proceeded 
    to call the roll.
        The result was announced--yeas 88, nays 0, as follows: . . .
        So the joint resolution(S.J. Res. 119) was passed.
        The preamble was agreed to.

On Italy

Sec. 7.3 The Senate by yea and nay vote unanimously agreed to a Senate 
    resolution formally declaring a state of war between the United 
    States and the Government of Italy.

    On Dec. 11, 1941,(18) the Senate by a vote of yeas 90, 
nays 0, agreed to Senate Joint Resolution 120, declaring a state of war 
between the United States and the Government of Ita1y.(19)
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18. 87 Cong. Rec. 9653, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
19. See Sec. 11.2, infra, for the President's request for a declaration 
        of war, and Sec. 6.3, supra, for House approval of the Senate 
        joint resolution.

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[[Page 1804]]

        Mr. [Tom T.] Connally [of Texas], from the Committee on Foreign 
    Relations, reported an original joint resolution (S.J. Res. 120) 
    declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of 
    Italy and the Government and the people of the United States and 
    making provision to prosecute the same, which was read the first 
    time by its title and the second time at length, as follows:

            Whereas the Government of Italy has formally declared war 
        against the Government and the people of the United States of 
        America: therefore be it
            Resolved, etc., That the state of war between the United 
        States and the Government of Italy which has thus been thrust 
        upon the United States is hereby formally declared. . . .

        The result [of the vote] was announced--yeas 90, nays 0, as 
    follows: . . .
        So the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 120) was passed.

On Bulgaria

Sec. 7.4 After receiving a message that the House had approved the 
    measure, the Senate by yea and nay vote unanimously agreed to a 
    House joint resolution formally declaring a state of war between 
    the United States and the Government of Bulgaria.

    On June 4, 1942,(20) the Senate by a vote of yeas 73, 
nays 0, agreed to House Joint Resolution 319, declaring a formal state 
of war between the United States and the Government of Bulgaria. The 
House had approved the measure the previous day.(1)
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20. 88 Cong. Rec. 4851-54, 77th Cong. 2d Sess.
 1. See Sec. 11.3, infra, for the President's request for a declaration 
        of war, and Sec. 6.4, supra, for House approval of this joint 
        resolution.
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        The message also announced that the House had passed the 
    following bills and joint resolutions, in which it requested the 
    concurrence of the Senate: . . .
        H.J. Res. 319. Joint resolution declaring that a state of war 
    exists between the Government of Bulgaria and the Government and 
    the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute 
    the same: . . .
        The Vice President: (2) The joint resolution having 
    been read three times, the question is, Shall it pass?
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 2. John N. Garner (Tex.).
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        Mr. [Tom T.] Connally [of Texas]: I ask for the yeas and nays.
        The yeas and nays were ordered, and the Chief Clerk proceeded 
    to call the roll. . . .
        The result was announced--yeas 73, nays 0, as follows: . . .
        So the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 319) was passed.
        The preamble was agreed to.

On Hungary

Sec. 7.5 After receiving a message that the House had approved the 
    measure, the Senate

[[Page 1805]]

    unanimously agreed to a House joint resolution formally declaring a 
    state of war between the United States and the Government of 
    Hungary.

    On June 4, 1942,(3) the Senate by a vote of yeas 73, 
nays 0, agreed to House Joint Resolution 320, declaring a formal state 
of war between the United States and the Government of Hungary. The 
House had approved the measure the previous day.(4)
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 3. 88 Cong. Rec. 4851, 4852, 4854, 4855, 77th Cong. 2d Sess.
 4. See Sec. 11.3, infra, for the President's request for a declaration 
        of war, and Sec. 6.5, supra, for House approval of the joint 
        resolution.
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        The message also announced that the House had passed the 
    following bills and joint resolutions, in which it requested the 
    concurrence of the Senate: . . .
        H.J. Res. 320. Joint resolution declaring that a state of war 
    exists between the Government of Hungary and the Government and the 
    people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the 
    same. . . .
        Mr. [Tom T.] Connally [of Texas]: Mr. President, with reference 
    to House Joint Resolution 320, declaring the fact that a state of 
    war exists between the Government of Hungary and that of the United 
    States, I am authorized by the Committee on Foreign Relations to 
    report the resolution to the Senate with a recommendation that it 
    pass. Consent has already been given for the immediate 
    consideration of the joint resolution.
        The Vice President: (5) Consent has been given for 
    the immediate consideration of the joint resolution.
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 5. John N. Garner (Tex.).
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        The Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution (H.J. 
    Res. 320) declaring that a state of war exists between the 
    Government of Hungary and the Government and people of the United 
    States and making provisions to prosecute the same, which was read, 
    as follows:

            Whereas the Government of Hungary has formally declared war 
        against the Government and the people of the United States of 
        America: Therefore be it. . . .

        The Vice President: The joint resolution having been read three 
    times, the question is, Shall it pass?
        Mr. Connally: I ask for the yeas and nays.
        The yeas and nays were ordered, and the legislative clerk 
    proceeded to call the roll. . . .
        The result was announced--yeas 73, nays 0, as follows: . . .
        So the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 320) was passed.
        The preamble was agreed to.

On Rumania

Sec. 7.6 After receiving a message that the House had approved the 
    measure, the Senate unanimously agreed to a House joint resolution 
    formally declaring a state of war between the United

[[Page 1806]]

    States and the Government of Rumania.

    On June 4, 1942,(6) the Senate by a vote of yeas 73 to 
nays 0, agreed to House Joint Resolution 321, declaring a formal state 
of war between the United States and the Government of Rumania. The 
House had approved the measure the previous day.(7)
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 6. 88 Cong. Rec. 4851, 4852, 4855, 4856, 77th Cong. 2d Sess.
 7. See Sec. 11.3, infra, for the President's request for a declaration 
        of war, and Sec. 6.6, supra, for House approval of this joint 
        resolution.
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        The message also announced that the House had passed the 
    following bills and joint resolutions, in which it requested the 
    concurrence of the Senate: . . .
        H.J. Res. 321. Joint resolution declaring that a state of war 
    exists between the Government of Rumania and the Government and the 
    people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the 
    same. . . .
        The Vice President: (8) The joint resolution having 
    been read three times, the question is, Shall it pass?
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 8. John N. Garner (Tex.).
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        Mr. [Tom T.] Connally [of Texas]: I ask for the yeas and nays.
        The yeas and nays were ordered, and the Chief Clerk proceeded 
    to call the roll. . . .
        The result was announced--yeas 73, nays 0, as follows: . . .
        So the resolution (H.J. Res. 321) was passed.
        The preamble was agreed to.