President Trump’s veto of SJ Res 7, the War Powers Act demand to end the Yemen War, raised some serious questions about Congress’ ability to retain control over constitutional war-making powers. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is hoping that will spur action to override the veto.
While the Senate vote on the original resolution was a close 54-46, Sanders cited the veto’s challenge to congressional authority as proof that the Senate needs to debate an override, which would require 67 votes.
The narrative surrounding the vote and veto is setting this up as a constitutional battle. President Trump suggested that voting against the war violated his presidential authority, while the Constitution clearly reserves war-making power for Congress.
Congress hasn’t asserted itself on war-making in decades, and while Sanders conceded it would be tough to swing 13 votes to override a veto, he appeared hopeful that Congress was ready to reclaim its authority on the matter.
Bernie Sanders Seeks Override of Trump’s Yemen Veto
Warns veto is a challenge to congressional authority
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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