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Title: First use of nuclear weapons: the constitutional role of a Congressional leadership committee

Abstract

Although the War Powers Act brought some constitutional order to the question of respective prerogatives of the legislative and executive branches of government, the Act is flawed in the matter of first use of nuclear weapons. The author reviews the Supreme Court decision in Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadna that the legislative veto was unconstitutional as it relates to the committee approval mechanism involved in the first-use proposal. He finds that neither the case nor the Constitution precludes the first-use proposal, then argues for the committee approval mechanism on the grounds that such an important decision should be shared. The urgency to fire nuclear weapons in retaliation for a nuclear attack is not present in a first-use scenario since conventional weapons would already be engaged. The Committee mechanism would involve Congress without jeopardizing speed and secrecy.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Syracuse Univ., NY
OSTI Identifier:
5642129
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Legis.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; NUCLEAR WEAPONS; ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES; LEGAL ASPECTS; CASE LAW; GOVERNMENT POLICIES; NATIONAL DEFENSE; WARFARE; LAWS; WEAPONS; 290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy

Citation Formats

Banks, W C. First use of nuclear weapons: the constitutional role of a Congressional leadership committee. United States: N. p., 1986. Web.
Banks, W C. First use of nuclear weapons: the constitutional role of a Congressional leadership committee. United States.
Banks, W C. 1986. "First use of nuclear weapons: the constitutional role of a Congressional leadership committee". United States.
@article{osti_5642129,
title = {First use of nuclear weapons: the constitutional role of a Congressional leadership committee},
author = {Banks, W C},
abstractNote = {Although the War Powers Act brought some constitutional order to the question of respective prerogatives of the legislative and executive branches of government, the Act is flawed in the matter of first use of nuclear weapons. The author reviews the Supreme Court decision in Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadna that the legislative veto was unconstitutional as it relates to the committee approval mechanism involved in the first-use proposal. He finds that neither the case nor the Constitution precludes the first-use proposal, then argues for the committee approval mechanism on the grounds that such an important decision should be shared. The urgency to fire nuclear weapons in retaliation for a nuclear attack is not present in a first-use scenario since conventional weapons would already be engaged. The Committee mechanism would involve Congress without jeopardizing speed and secrecy.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5642129}, journal = {J. Legis.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 13:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986}
}