总统和国会的战争权:谁决定美国开战

美国宪法对战争权的规定在总统和国会之间留下一片不明朗的“灰色区域”,造成总统和国会对战争权的竞争 ,但这种竞争并不是无条件的。实践表明 ,美国国会在决定美国开战的决策过程中发挥着巨大的作用 ,其影响不容忽视。尽管在历史上某些“帝王式的总统”当政时期 ,国会因其自身运作机制的特点在战争决定权中属于次要的地位 ,但是由于宪政理念、人民主权观念的深入人心 ,公众反战运动的努力及美国国会自身的努力 ,总统战争权会进一步受到国会的限制 ,国会在美国战争决定权的地位会得到不断的提升。

War Rights by the President and the Congress: Who Decides the United States Starting War

There is a vague "gray zone" concerning the war rights by the President or by the Congress in the American Constitution which causes competition between them, but this competition does have condictions. Practice shows that it is the Congress that plays great function in the process of decision of war, so its influence can't be ignored. Historically speaking, the Congress only played a minor role in the decision making process of war affairs, due to the influence of "imperial presidency" and the congressional mechanism. However, because of the striking root in the hearts of the people the idea of constitutionalism and popular sovereignty, the effort of public anti-war movement and the effort of the Congress itself, the President's decision of war will be given further restrictions from the Congress, and the Congress's power of war will gradually improve.