When Parliaments Go to War: US War Powers in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This essay compares the constitutional processes in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States for deploying the armed forces. It highlights two important advantages for US lawmakers to consider from the experiences in the United Kingdom and Germany. First, the recent British vote to use military force against ISIS in Syria illustrated the importance of a public debate - even if such a debate and parliamentary vote are not required by law under the British constitution. Second, the German vote demonstrates how the legislature can shape a military mission and leave the government on a strong legal footing for deploying the military. The United States would benefit if its legislators heeded both examples.