The National Security Powers Act

For decades, presidents have asserted the sweeping unilateral authority to use military force absent congressional authorization, declare emergencies in perpetuity, and sell weapons without meaningful oversight from Congress. These actions and Congress’s own inaction have relegated the people’s representatives to the role of junior partner on matters of war powers, national emergencies, and arms sales.  

The bipartisan introduction of two bills — the National Security Powers Act (NSPA) in the Senate and the similar National Security Reforms and Accountability Act (NSRAA) in the House — stands to change this. These bills position Congress to reclaim its constitutional role on matters of war and peace by proposing sweeping reforms in three domains: war powers, national emergencies, and arms sales. 

An Overview of the Bills

The NSPA and NSRAA would reassert Congress’s role in the areas of war powers, national emergencies, and foreign arms sales. The bills — introduced in the Senate and House, respectively — have received support from lawmakers of both parties and a host of groups across the ideological spectrum.

Congress’s own inaction has relegated the people’s representatives to the role of junior partner on matters of war powers, national emergencies, and arms sales.

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