After the Rubicon : Congress, presidents, and the politics of waging war / Douglas L. Kriner.

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, [2010]

©2010

x, 322 pages ; 24 cm.

Chicago series on international and domestic institutions.

"When the United States goes to war, the nation's attention focuses on the president. As commander in chief, a president reaches the zenith of power, while Congress is supposedly shunted to the sidelines once troops have been deployed abroad. Because of Congress's repeated failure to exercise its legislative powers to rein in presidents, many have proclaimed its irrelevance in military matters. This book challenges this conventional wisdom by illuminating the diverse ways in which legislators influence the conduct of military affairs. Kriner reveals that even in politically sensitive wartime environments, individual members of Congress frequently propose legislation, hold investigative hearings, and engage in national policy debates in the public sphere. These actions influence the president's strategic decisions as he weighs the political costs of pursuing his preferred military course." --From the Publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-313) and index.

KF5060 .K76 2010

English

9780226453552 (alkaline paper)
9780226453569 (paperback ; alkaline paper)
0226453553 (alkaline paper)
0226453561 (paperback ; alkaline paper)

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