On the recordMay 18, 2000
For too long, the foreign policy and military powers of the Congress have been yielded to the executive. This Congress has not been a jealous guardian of its own constitutional prerogatives. Under our system of government and its Constitution, the military and foreign policy powers are shared between the executive and the legislative branches. By necessity, the Commander in Chief must have the ability to deploy troops and make command decisions in emergencies. Often there is not time to consult, certainly not time to receive permission. But the power remains shared because we have the responsibility for the resources of the Government. The unfolding events in Kosovo that threaten to go not a matter of months but many years--even more than a decade--does not require emergency powers. There is no shortage of time. There is an opportunity for our Constitution to function and for the President to return to this Chamber.
Source
govinfo.gov
