The U.S. Senate on the 15th once again rejected a bill initiated by the Democratic Party. The bill required President Trump to end military operations against Iran, and to obtain Congressional authorization before undertaking any further military action against Iran.
The Senate vote that day was 47 in favor and 52 against, with one Republican senator abstaining, so the bill was not passed. Given that the Republican Party holds 53 seats in the 100-seat Senate, this result was expected.
This marks the fourth time since the U.S. launched military action against Iran at the end of February that the Senate has rejected Democratic efforts to restrict the president's war powers.
The Democratic side stated it will continue to introduce similar bills until the conflict with Iran concludes or Congress authorizes continued military action.
Senate Minority Leader, Democrat Schumer, said in Congress on the 14th that Democrats have already submitted 10 bills to restrict the president’s war powers and plan to introduce similar bills every week for as long as the conflict with Iran continues.
According to the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war. A bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 1973 stipulates that only in national emergencies caused by attacks against the United States or imminent threats may the president undertake limited military action without Congressional authorization. In regard to this instance of U.S. military action against Iran, numerous Democratic lawmakers have spoken out, criticizing the action as unauthorized by Congress and therefore illegal.