President Donald Trump (Screenshot)

Editor's note : Can the president unilaterally initiate the use of military force without a prior authorization from Congress? In his notes from the Constitutional Convention, James Madison stated that the Executive could only do so when it was necessary "to repel sudden attacks."

President Donald Trump, in tweets this morning, submitted that the White House is “very calm and calculated”; then warned Russia about its vow “to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria,” saying, “Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’” The tweets suggest that President Trump thinks he can engage in an extended military campaign against Syria without prior congressional authorization. Who is right: The Trump White House or James Madison?

The Constitutional Convention dealt with this issue on Aug. 17, 1787. Here are James Madison notes on the debate in the convention that day that resulted in the power being held by Congress:

"'To make war' "Mr Pinkney opposed the vesting this power in the Legislature. Its proceedings were too slow. It wd. meet but once a year. The Hs. of Reps. would be too numerous for such deliberations. The Senate would be the best depositary, being more acquainted with foreign affairs, and most capable of proper resolutions. If the States are equally represented in Senate, so as to give no advantage to large States, the power will notwithstanding be safe, as the small have their all at stake in such cases as well as the large States. It would be singular for one authority to make war, and another peace. "Mr Butler. The Objections agst the Legislature lie in a great degree agst the Senate. He was for vesting the power in the President, who will have all the requisite qualities, and will not make war but when the Nation will support it. "Mr. Madison and Mr Gerry moved to insert 'declare,' striking out 'make' war; leaving to the Executive the power to repel sudden attacks. "Mr Sharman thought it stood very well. The Executive shd. be able to repel and not to commence war. 'Make' better than 'declare' the latter narrowing the power too much. James Madison's handwritten notes from the Constitutional Convention on Aug. 17, 1787, showing that the words giving Congress the power to "declare war" left to the president only the power "to repel sudden attacks." (Library of Congress) "Mr Gerry never expected to hear in a republic a motion to empower the Executive alone to declare war. "Mr. Elseworth. there is a material difference between the cases of making war, and making peace. It shd. be more easy to get out of war, than into it. War also is a simple and overt declaration. peace attended with intricate & secret negociations. "Mr. Mason was agst giving the power of war to the Executive, because not safely to be trusted with it; or to the Senate, because not so constructed as to be entitled to it. He was for clogging rather than facilitating war; but for facilitating peace. He preferred 'declare' to 'make'. "On the Motion to insert declare--in place of Make, it was agreed to. "N. H. no. Mas. abst. Cont. no.1 Pa ay. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo- ay. [Ayes--7; noes--2; absent--1.] "Mr. Pinkney's motion to strike out whole clause, disagd. to without call of States. "Mr Butler moved to give the Legislature power of peace, as they were to have that of war. "Mr Gerry 2ds. him. 8 Senators may possibly exercise the power if vested in that body, and 14 if all should be present; and may consequently give up part of the U. States. The Senate are more liable to be corrupted by an Enemy than the whole Legislature. "On the motion for adding 'and peace' after 'war' "N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. no S. C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes--0; noes--10.] "On the remark by Mr. King that 'make' war might be understood to 'conduct' it which was an Executive function, Mr. Elseworth gave up his objection and the vote of Cont was changed to--ay."

These notes, written by James Madison, and many others like them, can be found at The Library of Congress.

The two pages reproduced below are from James Madison's handwritten notes from the Constitutional Convention on Aug. 17, 1787, showing how the convention debated the war power and decided to give Congress the power to declare war leaving to the Executive only the power to "repel sudden attacks. These notes are posted online by the Library of Congress.

James Madison was an American statesman, political theorist and the fourth President of the United States (1809-1817). He is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for being instrumental in the drafting of the United States Constitution and as the key champion and author of the United States Bill of Rights.

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