00:00No, a U.S. president can't formally declare war on his own.
00:03The latest is that U.S. President Donald Trump says he prefers to solve the Iran tensions
00:07through diplomacy.
00:09But can he just declare war on Iran overnight?
00:11Technically, he cannot.
00:13Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war.
00:17However, the president is commander-in-chief.
00:19He directs the military.
00:21So Trump can move military equipment.
00:23He can deploy aircraft carriers.
00:25He can send additional troops to the region.
00:27All of that falls under his authority.
00:29But what happens if U.S. forces are actually used?
00:32That is where the War Powers Resolution comes in.
00:35Under that law, a president can't introduce U.S. forces into hostilities,
00:39such as a limited attack, without prior congressional approval.
00:42But once that happens, the clock starts ticking.
00:45The president must notify Congress within 48 hours.
00:48Forces cannot remain engaged for more than 60 days without congressional authorization,
00:53with a possible 30-day withdrawal period.
00:55But most limited strikes last hours to just several days.
00:59A full-scale war would require Congress to vote.
01:02Lawmakers would publicly debate it.
01:04Funding would have to be approved.
01:05A limited strike, on the other hand, can be launched quickly and completed within that legal window.
01:11So when you see military equipment moving into position,
01:14it does not automatically mean the U.S. is heading toward a declared war.
01:18It means the president is positioning for options.
01:21And constitutionally, those options are far more likely to be limited and time-bound,
01:26rather than open-ended war.
01:28.
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