<P> The War Powers Resolution ( also known as the War Powers Resolution of 1973 or the War Powers Act ) ( 50 U.S.C. 1541 -- 1548 ) is a federal law intended to check the president 's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress . The Resolution was adopted in the form of a United States Congress joint resolution . It provides that the U.S. President can send U.S. Armed Forces into action abroad only by declaration of war by Congress , `` statutory authorization , '' or in case of `` a national emergency created by attack upon the United States , its territories or possessions , or its armed forces . '' </P>
in 1973 congress passed the war powers resolution to
check the president 's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress