The Senate is taking a largely symbolic vote Friday on President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE’s war powers amid escalating tension with Iran, which some lawmakers fear could lead to another war in the Middle East.

The Senate convened at 5 a.m. to begin the vote, an unusually early time, to accommodate senators who had early flights at the start of the July 4th recess. The vote will be held open for several hours to give Democratic presidential candidates who attended Thursday night's debate in Miami time to return to Washington.

Republican leaders said they have the votes to strike down a bipartisan amendment scheduled Friday that would block funding for military action against Iran if Trump does not first secure approval from Congress.

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A handful of Republicans, between three and six, are expected to vote for the proposal, which is an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

But the amendment needs 60 to pass, and Republican leaders are confident they will defeat it.

The proposal prohibits using funds to conduct hostilities against the government or armed forces of Iran without a joint resolution from Congress specifically authorizing action.

Democrats insisted on a vote as a symbolic move to rein in Trump’s war-making authority and comes a week after Trump called off retaliatory attacks against Iran at the last minute in response to the downing of a U.S. drone.

“We were within 10 minutes of a war last week and the president is going around saying he doesn’t need Congress,” said Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Democrats call for declassifying election threats after briefing by Trump officials Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE (D-Va.), one of the amendment’s sponsors.

“We the Democrats stuck firm. We have to have this discussion before we move to the vote on the NDAA,” he added, predicting that all 47 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus will vote for it.

Trump further raised anxiety on Capitol Hill when he threatened Iran with “obliteration” on Tuesday.

“Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration,” he tweeted.

He called off an airstrike last week with only 10 minutes to spare after he was informed it would likely result in 150 deaths.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE (D-N.Y.) insisted on having the vote on Friday, when all members of his caucus will be present.

Seven Democrats traveled to Miami this week for the first round of the presidential primary debates and were keen not to miss a key vote limiting Trump’s power.

The Senate will convene at 5 am Friday morning and immediately vote on the Iran amendment. Vote will stay open throughout the day to give democrats returning from the debate a chance to vote.

Schumer and his Democratic colleagues threatened to defeat the defense authorization bill, which has passed annually for the past 58 years, if Republicans refused to give them a vote on the amendment, creating a high-stakes game of chicken earlier in the week.

“Americans including myself and our caucus is worried that president Trump will bumble into a war that nobody wants,” Schumer said after meeting with his caucus to discuss strategy on the Iran vote.

Last year, Trump joined the United Kingdom and France in launching more than 110 missiles against the Syrian government in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack against civilians near Damascus.

In an unusual arrangement, the amendment will receive a vote a day after the Senate approved the underlying defense authorization bill, which passed by a strong bipartisan vote of 86 to 8.

It will be the second time this year the Senate will vote to limit Trump’s war powers.

The chamber passed a resolution in March to end U.S. support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting against rebels in Yemen. Trump later vetoed the resolution

“We want to defeat it, it’s at 60 and so we know what the numbers we need are,” said Senate Republican Whip John Thune John Randolph ThuneSenate passes resolution reaffirming commitment to peaceful transition of power Susan Collins faces political land mine with Supreme Court fight Abortion stirs GOP tensions in Supreme Court fight MORE (S.D.), referring to the 60-vote threshold. “We know where most of our amendments are.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe James (Jim) Mountain InhofeChamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection Overnight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Top admiral: 'No condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' MORE (R-Okla.), who has jurisdiction over the defense bill, predicted all Democrats would vote for the Iran amendment and that a few Republicans will join them.

“I don’t think it will get 60 votes. I think it will have all of the Democrats. Democrats are disciplined, Republicans aren’t, we know that. And we know also that there are going to be a few Republicans that will join,” he said.

The two Republican co-sponsors are Sens. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Rand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts MORE (Ky.) and Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeBipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package McConnell tries to unify GOP MORE (Utah).

Paul told The Hill he expects that between three and six Republicans will vote for the amendment.

That would give the amendment 50 to 53 votes — strengthening the message to Trump.

One test for Republican leaders will be to keep the vote to less than a majority, but that will be complicated by several Republican absences. Thune said Sen. Mike Rounds Marion (Mike) Michael RoundsDemocrats call for declassifying election threats after briefing by Trump officials The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (R-S.D.) is expected to be absent. So is Sen. Mike Braun Michael BraunPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package Patient Protection Pledge offers price transparency MORE (R-Ind.).

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power MORE (R-Ky.) has assured colleagues that Trump does not want to go war with Iran.

“Nobody is advocating going to war with Iran. Not the president, not the secretary of State, none of the generals. No one," he said after meeting with GOP colleagues Tuesday.

On Thursday McConnell said that Trump is reviewing actions “clearly within the bounds of measured responses that have not been micromanaged by Congress in the past.”

He told reporters Thursday afternoon that he expects the amendment to fail."I would love to have some Democratic support and I think this is an example of the affliction of Trump derangement syndrome. Whatever he's for, they seem to be against," he said.