论美国总统的对外战争决策权

On US President's War-making Power

美国宪法规定美国对外战争的宣战权在国会,而不在总统。可是从宪法颁布至今,美国的100多次对外战争只有5次是国会正式宣战的,其余均为不宣而战。在历次不宣而战的对外战争中,不仅国会照样同意拨款和派兵,而且最高法院也从未判总统违宪。可见国会是否宣战是无关紧要的。美国对外战争的决策主要在于总统。即使是国会1973年通过了限制总统战争权的“战争权力决议案”,直至今日,总统在对外战争上仍然是“不宣而战”。

US Constitution stipulates that the power to declare war is vested in Congress instead of president. But since the constitution coming into being, there are more than 100 US foreign wars waged in the absence of congressional formal declaration of war except 5 times. In all of the undeclared wars, not only the Congress agreed to appropriate funds and send troops, but also the Supreme Court never haled the presidents＇ military actions were unconstitutional. Therefore, it can be taken for granted that the Congress＇ formal declaration of war is insignificant. In fact, the foreign war-making power is mainly in US presidents＇ hand. Although the Congress passed the “ War Powers Resolution” in 1973 to limit the presidents＇ war-making power and up to now, the presidents have been waging the “undeclared wars”.