Which act, passed in 1973, limited the President's authority to wage war without Congressional approval?

• A. War Powers Act
• B. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
• C. Authorization for Use of Military Force
• D. National Security Act

Answer: (A)

After Vietnam, lawmakers sought to curb how long the President could wage war without Congress’s say-so. The War Powers Act of 1973 embodies that aim. It requires the president to consult with Congress and to report within 48 hours of deploying U.S. armed forces into hostilities, and it generally bars ongoing operations beyond 60 days unless Congress explicitly authorizes a longer period or declares war. This set of rules represents a deliberate attempt to reintroduce congressional oversight into decisions about military force.

By contrast, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution from 1964 gave broad authority to the president to escalate in Vietnam rather than restricting it, and the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the National Security Act serve different purposes or come from different eras (post-9/11 and 1947, respectively). Thus the 1973 act is the one that limits presidential authority to wage war without congressional approval.