Thread by @bridgewriter

THREAD: I’m excited to launch the War Powers Resolution Reporting Project @RCLS_NYU today.

It’s a new database that analyzes the contents of all unclassified 48-hr reports since the WPR was enacted.

Here are a few of the initial findings....

#WarPowersRCLS

First some background: the War Powers Resolution (WPR) requires Presidents to report to Congress within 48-hours in 3 situations:
- introducing armed forces into (imminent) hostilities
- deploying combat-equipped troops
- substantially enlarging a combat-equipped presence

We identified 105 unclassified reports since the WPR was enacted

Some Presidents (Clinton & Obama) filed many more reports than others

BUT not all reports are equally significant: more reports don’t always mean more conflict

& reporting can reflect a commitment to transparency

For introductions into hostilities, under the WPR a Pres has to cease the activity w/in 60 days unless authorized by Congress

But ONLY Ford reported whether hostilities triggered the report: So we analyzed all of the reports to determine which ones triggered the “60-day clock"

We found 38 reports were triggered by hostilities or imminent involvement in hostilities (using the Executive’s def. of “hostilities”)

About half of these were for purposes not always seen as within the President’s sole authority, even though they cited no statutory authority

A few other initial findings:

Presidential reporting to Congress mostly fulfills the WPR’s 3 info. requirements, but not always in a meaningful way that enables robust oversight - reports often use essentially “boilerplate” descriptions of the military activity at issue

Analysis of the reports shows significant gaps in the WPR’s reporting framework that suggest areas for potential reform. BUT…

Sometimes Presidents report info. that isn’t required by the WPR. For example, more than half the 48-hr reports provide info about the international legal basis of the activity.

More about these and my other findings in the Key Findings & Analysis section of the War Powers Resolution Reporting Project. #WarPowersRCLS
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org/findingsandana…

The database is open source, so others can conduct their own analysis of the data.

Let us know your major takeaways: Respond @RCLS_NYU, or email us at [e-mail]

warpowers.lawandsecurity.org