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HJRES159119th Congress

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the duration of authorizations of the use of force.

Sponsored By: Representative Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]

Introduced

Summary

A five-year sunset on non-declared overseas military authorizations. This constitutional amendment would require that any Act of Congress passed after ratification that authorizes the use of military force outside the United States and is not accompanied by a declaration of war ends on the earlier of five years after enactment or the statute's own termination date.

Show full summary
  • Congress: Authorizations it enacts for the use of military force abroad without a declaration of war would automatically cease after five years or on the law's stated end date. This rule applies only to Acts enacted after ratification.
  • Executive branch: The amendment would limit executive-branch authority to conduct prolonged military operations abroad under open-ended authorizations by imposing a fixed time limit on those authorizations.
  • Scope and exclusions: The sunset applies only to post-ratification laws that authorize force outside the United States and does not apply to Acts that include a declaration of war or to laws enacted before ratification.

The amendment is aimed at placing a clear time limit on non-declared war powers and ensuring authorizations end unless Congress or the statute itself provides otherwise.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Five-year limit on military authorizations abroad

This bill would add a constitutional rule limiting future Acts of Congress that authorize U.S. military force outside the United States. Any authorization enacted after ratification would end on the earlier of five years after enactment or the termination date the Act itself sets. The rule would not apply to a formal declaration of war enacted by Congress. The amendment would take effect only if two-thirds of both Houses propose it and three-fourths of state legislatures ratify it within seven years.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]

MI • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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