A Constitutional Clash Over Trump's War Powers in Venezuela

"The question before the body is, can the Congress stop a military conflict declared by the Commander-in- Chief because we don't agree with the decision, and without our [Congress] approval it must end? The answer, unequivocally, to me is no. Under the Constitution, the authority to be Commander-in-Chief resides exclusively with the President. The power to declare war is exclusive to the Congress."

"To halt the at-the-time classified Laos bombing program, Fulbright introduced an amendment to the fiscal 1970 Defense Appropriations Bill that prohibited the use of U.S. funds to send American ground combat troops into Laos or Thailand. To get his amendment debated and passed, Fulbright had to arrange for a closed-session of the Senate. That closed session was held on December 16, 1969, with all 100 Senators present,"

Sen. Lindsey Graham stated that the President holds exclusive Commander-in-Chief authority while the power to declare war rests with Congress, and that Congress can constitutionally respond to non-declared military actions by cutting off funding. S.J. Res. 90 aimed to direct the President to terminate U.S. armed forces hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force. A historical precedent occurred in December 1969 when Sen. J.W. Fulbright secured an amendment prohibiting U.S. funds to send American ground combat troops into Laos or Thailand to halt a classified bombing program.

Read at The Cipher Brief