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War vs peace executive prerogative

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Often appears with: war powers · strategy and the aims of war · presidential foreign policy authority · legislative vs executive roles · diplomacy and embassies · constitutional drafting

Usually: argument (1) · detachment (1)

The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 2 primary

United States. Constitutional Convention · 1787-07-19 to 1787-09-17 (convention debates recorded; excerpts reflect entries in the official journal as presented here)
Act to which the States by their Legislatures, make themselves parties, becomes a compact from which no one of the parties can recede of itself. > act of the ordinary legislatures to be equally authentic, (26/65)

The delegates argued about whether the President or the government should “declare” war versus “make” it, then rejected adding “and peace,” and ended the session with adjournment.

M^r Madison and M^r Gerry moved to insert "*declare*," striking out "*make*" war; leaving to the Executive the power to repel sudden attacks. M^r Sherman thought it stood very well. The Executive sh^d be able to repel and not to commence war. "Make" is better than "declare" the latter narrowing the power too much. M^r Gerry never expected to hear in a republic a motion to empower the Executive alone to declare war.…