Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-110

§1547 Interpretation of Joint Resolution

Title 50 › CHAPTER 33 — WAR POWERS RESOLUTION › § 1547

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Says you cannot assume any law or any treaty lets the United States send its armed forces into combat unless the law or treaty clearly says so and says it is meant to be that specific permission. That rule applies to laws passed before or after November 7, 1973. For a treaty to count, Congress must pass a law that says the treaty authorizes sending troops. Allows one exception: U.S. service members may take part in joint headquarters of high-level military commands set up before November 7, 1973 under the UN Charter or a treaty already ratified, without extra approval. Defines "introduction of United States Armed Forces" as assigning troops to command, coordinate, move with, or accompany foreign forces that are in combat or about to be. Nothing in this law changes constitutional powers or gives the President any new authority to send troops.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §1547

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Inferences from any law or treaty

Authority to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances shall not be inferred—

(1)from any provision of law (whether or not in effect before November 7, 1973), including any provision contained in any appropriation Act, unless such provision specifically authorizes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into such situations and states that it is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of this chapter; or

(2)from any treaty heretofore or hereafter ratified unless such treaty is implemented by legislation specifically authorizing the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into such situations and stating that it is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of this chapter.

(b)Joint headquarters operations of high-level military commands

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any further specific statutory authorization to permit members of United States Armed Forces to participate jointly with members of the armed forces of one or more foreign countries in the headquarters operations of high-level military commands which were established prior to November 7, 1973, and pursuant to the United Nations Charter or any treaty ratified by the United States prior to such date.

(c)Introduction of United States Armed Forces

For purposes of this chapter, the term “introduction of United States Armed Forces” includes the assignment of members of such armed forces to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany the regular or irregular military forces of any foreign country or government when such military forces are engaged, or there exists an imminent threat that such forces will become engaged, in hostilities.

(d)Constitutional authorities or existing treaties unaffected; construction against grant of Presidential authority respecting use of United States Armed Forces

Nothing in this chapter—

(1)is intended to alter the constitutional authority of the Congress or of the President, or the provisions of existing treaties; or

(2)shall be construed as granting any authority to the President with respect to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances which authority he would not have had in the absence of this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 1547

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110