Help support our Club's resolutions by writing your Congressional Representatives and telling them what you think about these recent DUFP Resolutions:
Resolution: End the War, Stop Funding Military Operations in Iraq, Revoke the Original Authorization and Assert the War Powers Act
Resolution Number SAC07.32
WHEREAS, the American people gave a clear and unambiguous mandate to the 110th Congress to end the war in Iraq which was started under false pretenses by the Bush Administration and many members of Congress now say they would not have voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq if they had known that the information provided was based on selective and sometimes inaccurate intelligence; and
WHEREAS, the war has claimed the lives of over 3,600 American military personnel, has wounded many thousands more, and has resulted in the death, wounding, or dislocation of a significant number of Iraqis, has cost in excess of $442 billion, tarnished our reputation in the international community, resulted in regional instability and has significantly hampered the fight against Al Qaeda by sapping our military, economic and political resources and provided a propaganda-recruiting bonanza for Al Qaeda; and
WHEREAS, Congress has the ultimate power to declare war under the Constitution and the War Powers Act and in addition can exercise the "power of the purse" to withdraw funding from any activity it feels is not in the best interest of the United States and this power to appropriate is the most powerful tool it has to control policies in the Executive branch to which it objects;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party reaffirms its position calling for an end to the war and joins over 70 percet of the American people as well as over 70 percent of the Iraqi people in demanding an end to the occupation quickly and to reject so-called benchmarks and distant deadlines and urges Congress to vote against all further appropriations for military operations in Iraq except for the explicit purpose of bringing all combat troops and private contractors home safely and without delay; and that no additional funds be authorized or appropriated except to provide safety for U.S. infrastructure and personnel and for rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure and providing for security as part of a United Nations effort; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party calls upon Congress to revoke the original authorization given to President Bush on October 16, 2002 to use military force in Iraq, thus unifying our country in its absolute desire to see an immediate end to the Iraq war and sending the strongest message to President Bush and, in addition, that Congress reaffirm its commitment to exercise the powers given to it in the Constitution and under the War Powers Act to declare war so that the United States of America does not go to war again without explicit, constitutionally mandated authorization by Congress; that where Congress has withdrawn its authorization for the use of force, that the President should comply with the Constitution and the War Powers Act and seek either a formal declaration of war or a new authorization for the use of force.
Respectfully submitted; Emily Thurber & Bob Farran for the California Democratic Party Resolutions Committee; Karen Bernal; Mark Hull-Richter; Thomas Gangale; Tony Green; Mendocino CCC; South Sonoma CCC
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Adopted by the Executive Board
Of the California Democratic Party
At Its Executive Board Meeting
Radisson Hotel, Sacramento
July 15, 2007
Resolution: Amendment of U. S. Constitution Requiring the President to Defend the United States Subject to Congressional Approval
WHEREAS: The framers of the Constitution made the President the Commander in Chief of United States Military Forces and balanced this war power by giving Congress sole power to declare or initiate war, the framers of the Constitution could not have anticipated the United States would be the superpower it is today with technology and circumstances making it possible and sometimes necessary for the President as Commander in Chief and exercising powers implicit in the Constitution to quickly respond to sudden attack or imminent threats to the security of the United States before Congress is able to declare war or otherwise authorize the nation’s defense, Congresses’ failure to fully assert its war making power combined with Presidents’ interpretation of their power to defend the United States has led to abuse of Presidential war powers; and
WHEREAS: The War Powers Resolution of 1973 (PL 93-148): 1. was designed to “insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities”, 2. has been virtually ignored by both Presidents and Congress and has failed to meet expectations, 3. gives Presidents unwarranted power to introduce United States military forces into hostilities for both offensive and defensive purposes for up to 90 days without Congressional approval and provides no effective mechanism for curtailing such action by a President, and 4. the constitutionality of the Resolution is suspect since it has the potential to temporarily transfer war making power from the Legislative Branch to the Executive Branch of government, where the only constitutional vehicle for such a transfer is an Amendment to the Constitution; and
WHEREAS: the Constitution makes it explicitly clear that only Congress has authority to declare war or initiate other offensive military action, the Constitution needs to be equally clear about the President’s duty and temporary authority to defend the United States until Congress can authorize the defense of the nation, and while there is value in permitting a minority of Senators to use a filibuster to check a rush to an ill-conceived war, there is no justification for a Presidential veto or filibuster preventing Congress from ending a war.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That we urge Congress to pass and the states to ratify the following Amendment to the U. S. Constitution and thus explicitly provide the President with only that authority absolutely essential to defend the United States until Congress is able to authorize defensive action or curtail it:
Amendment nn
In case of sudden or imminent attack on the United States, the President, as Commander in Chief, shall immediately employ all necessary and lawful means to defend the United States. Upon initiating such defense, and in accordance with a process specified by Congress, the President shall immediately seek Congressional authorization to continue these defensive actions. A majority vote in either House of Congress can deny the President’s request, or once granted, void Congress' authorization.
Submitted by: Tony Green, Vice President, Democrats United For Progress, January 2007; Democrats United For Progress, Gualala, California; Mendocino County Democratic Central Committee; Mendocino Coast Democratic Club Ft Bragg, California; South Sonoma County Democratic Club.
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