The Military Power of the President

Grade 6-10 A historical and constitutional analysis of an important unresolved issue of American government: who has the power to commit American military resources to war, the President or Congress? Carefully weaving his way through 200 years of U.S. military involvements, Kronenwetter shows that the pendulum has swung back and forth between the executive and legislative branches, and that at different times each has taken positions for and against waging war. Since World War IIthe last declared war in which the U.S. has foughtAmerica has fought two undeclared wars (in Korea and Vietnam), both conducted by the President without the official approval of Congress. Kronenwetter is meticulously careful to present arguments for and against the two government branches having the power to sanction war, and he presents a clear and fair-minded selective survey of American history as it bears on this issue. Especially useful for school libraries, the book implies that the constitutional problem of war powers is likely to remain murky until the Supreme Court renders a conclusive verdict, and it implicitly encourages young readers to come up with their own resolution. Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.