war powers

American  

plural noun

1. the powers exercised by the president or by Congress during a war or a crisis affecting national security.

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Etymology

Origin of war powers

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

A similar process has already been advancing with the war powers resolutions of the last year, and since 2018.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Representatives Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., are looking to force a vote on a war powers resolution.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Domestically, opposition politicians chanted the traditional laments about executive usurpation and congressional war powers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

One key purpose of the Constitution was to transfer war powers from the states to the federal government so that the nation could present a unified front to its enemies.

From Slate • Aug. 11, 2023

Two weeks later, Parliament met in a special four day session and without a dissenting voice voted the war credits the Government asked and conferred upon it special war powers of the widest scope.

From The Canadian Dominion; a chronicle of our northern neighbor by Skelton, Oscar Douglas