Congress hasn't declared war since June 5th, 1942 — yet the U.S. has fought in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Iran without a single formal declaration. Every president who launched those wars, Democrat and Republican, claimed they had the legal authority to do it. Now, 43 days into active conflict with Iran, almost no one in Washington is asking who actually had the right to start it.

Everything you need to understand the constitutional war powers crisis and why it explains the war happening right now.

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