Fact Check: "Congress hasn't formally declared war in over 80 years."
What We Know
The claim that Congress has not formally declared war in over 80 years is accurate. According to the U.S. Constitution, specifically Article 1, Section 8, Congress is granted the power to declare war. Historically, Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, with the last formal declaration occurring during World War II. This declaration was made on June 4, 1942, against Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, which were allied with the Axis powers (About Declarations of War by Congress, The US Constitutional and Legal Basis for a Declaration of War). Since then, the U.S. has engaged in numerous military actions without a formal declaration of war, relying instead on authorizations for the use of military force (Declaration of war by the United States).
Analysis
The assertion that Congress has not formally declared war in over 80 years is supported by multiple credible sources. The last formal declaration was indeed in 1942, and since then, all military engagements have occurred under different legislative frameworks, such as the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which allows the president to engage in military actions without a formal declaration from Congress (The US Constitutional and Legal Basis for a Declaration of War).
The reliability of the sources used to support this claim is high. The information from the U.S. Senate's official website provides a clear and authoritative account of Congress's war powers and historical actions (About Declarations of War by Congress). Additionally, the Wikipedia entry on declarations of war offers a comprehensive overview of the topic, including the legal context and historical instances of war declarations (Declaration of war by the United States).
However, it is important to note that while Congress has not issued formal declarations of war, presidents have frequently engaged in military actions based on their interpretation of executive powers. This has led to ongoing debates about the constitutional balance of war powers between Congress and the presidency (Declaration of war).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Congress has not formally declared war in over 80 years is true. The last formal declaration was made in 1942, and since then, military actions have occurred without such declarations, primarily through presidential authorizations. This reflects a significant shift in how military engagements are initiated in the United States, raising questions about the adherence to constitutional processes.
