POLL: Can President Elevate Syrian Conflict Without Approval?

Published: 03 Sep, 2013

1 min read

President Barack Obama meets in the Situation Room with his national security advisors to discuss strategy in Syria, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Secretary of State John Kerry, on behalf of President Obama, is before Congress seeking approval to perform military actions in Syria. The President, however, has indicated that he may pursue military action even if he doesn’t get Congressional approval.

Under Article 8, Section 1 of the Constitution, “Congress shall have the power to declare war." Yet, the US has engaged in acts of war without Congressional approval dating back to the Quasi War of the John Adams administration all the way up to contemporary conflicts as recent as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.

The last time Congress actually declared war was World War II.

Outside of an immediate threat, should any president be allowed to authorize an act of war without Congressional approval? Answer our poll on the left of the page today!

Then, make sure to leave a comment to let us know why you voted the way you did:

New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You

Using verified California voter file data, IVP surveyed high-propensity voters from February 13 through 20. The poll tested first-choice ballot preferences alongside issue intensity on affordability and the cost of living, immigration enforcement, more choice reform, and more....

23 Feb, 2026

10 min read

81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?

Polls consistently show that nearly all Americans across the political spectrum agree that there is too much money in politics – whether from foreign sources, corporations, or so-called “dark money” groups. ...

23 Feb, 2026

13 min read

10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass

The overlap between committee assignments and stock ownership is not automatically illegal. Because the current legal framework permits this proximity as long as disclosure rules are followed, lawmakers are not operating under a system that forces change....

20 Feb, 2026

4 min read

POLL: Can President Elevate Syrian Conflict Without Approval?

You Might Also Like