The Big Picture - US President's War Powers

Amid simmering tensions between the United States and Iran, the US House of Representatives has approved a resolution seeking to limit President Donald Trump's ability to take military action against the Islamic Republic.

The resolution by Democrats comes in the wake of Trump's order to kill an Iranian commander and subsequent retaliatory missile strikes by Tehran which escalated tensions, and also raised fears of a devastating war between the two countries...

The resolution passed the Democratic-run chamber 224-194, and will now go to the Republican-held Senate.

Citing the War Powers Resolution of 1973 which forbids a president from taking the country to war without congressional approval, the measure directs the president to terminate the use of United States armed forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military.

Although it does provide for key exceptions like allowing the use of force to defend against or prevent an "imminent" attack against Americans.

On this edition of The Big Picture, we analyse the dispute over the Congress' role in matters of war and peace and whether it is binding on the President of America...

Guests - Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Former Secretary, MEA,
ProfessoR Harsh V Pant, Head, Strategic Studies, Observer Research Foundation,
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Foreign Affairs Editor, Hindustan Times,

Anchor - Teena Jha