US President Barack Obama has the authority to launch air strikes against Syria. But he has to notify lawmakers in Congress -- a process which has begun, according to both sides.
"The administration is actively consulting with members of Congress, and we will continue to have these conversations in the days ahead," Kerry said Monday in a strongly-worded statement on Syria.
The Republican speaker of the House Of Representatives, John Boehner, has had "preliminary communication with the White House about the situation in Syria and any potential US response," his spokesman said.
"The speaker made clear that before any action is taken there must be meaningful consultation with members of Congress, as well as clearly defined objectives and a broader strategy to achieve stability," said the spokesman, Brendan Buck.
In 1973, after the Vietnam War and despite the opposition of Richard Nixon in the White House, the US Congress passed the War Powers Resolution to compel US presidents to seek congressional approval in order to deploy soldiers.
A president must, in theory at least, obtain an authorization voted on by Congress if introducing troops into "hostilities" or "situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances" to keep the operation going beyond 60 days.
In practice, however, all presidents since Nixon have deemed this unconstitutional and regularly neglected to ask for such permission, instead simply notifying Congress.
Obama, leaning on a United Nations Security Council resolution, launched aerial strikes against Moamer Kadhafi's troops in Libya in March 2011. But according to the administration, the operation did not fall within the "hostilities" outlined in the 1973 law.
In the wake of the strikes, Congress was split between backers of a law mandating the president stop the intervention and those who wanted to formally authorize it.
In March 1999, lawmakers also didn't have a say on the lengthy bombing campaign in Kosovo, launched by then-president Bill Clinton.
"They do not need an authorization but I hope they will come for one," Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told broadcaster MSNBC of a possibleSyria strike.
"They can start but hopefully as soon as we get back (from recess), Congress will take up an authorization for this," he added.
According to the senator, a response on Syria "is imminent" and US military "assets are in place."
Political debate on the topic remains animated and some lawmakers, including many with ties to the ultra conservative Tea Party, unsuccessfully tried in July to preventively block an attack on Syria without the approval of Congress.
For now, the calendar is on Obama's side since Congress is on summer recess until September 9.
AFP
Tue Aug 27 2013
![Obama doesn't need Congress to intervene in Syria Obama doesn't need Congress to intervene in Syria](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-11/61352262456_295x200.jpg)
MBSB Bank bekerjasama dengan INSKEN, MAIJ lancar program untuk komuniti asnaf
Program tersebut bertujuan untuk mentransformasikan kewangan sosial Islam dengan memperkasakan individu dalam komuniti asnaf melalui latihan intensif, sokongan kewangan dan bimbingan berterusan.
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
![Barack Obama, isteri sokong Kamala Harris dalam saingan Presiden AS Barack Obama, isteri sokong Kamala Harris dalam saingan Presiden AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/51482646389_BarackObama.jpg)
Barack Obama, isteri sokong Kamala Harris dalam saingan Presiden AS
Obama berkata beliau dan isteri, Michelle menyatakan sokongan kepada Naib Presiden Kamala Harris dalam perlumbaan presiden November ini.
![Obama ucap terima kasih kepada Biden, tidak sahkan sokongan terhadap Harris Obama ucap terima kasih kepada Biden, tidak sahkan sokongan terhadap Harris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721608751_BarackObama.jpg)
Obama ucap terima kasih kepada Biden, tidak sahkan sokongan terhadap Harris
Obama berkata, Biden merupakan salah seorang Presiden Amerika yang paling penting serta menjadi kawan dan rakan kongsi yang dikasihi.
![Obama, Pelosi mahu Biden pertimbang undur diri daripada pilihan raya AS Obama, Pelosi mahu Biden pertimbang undur diri daripada pilihan raya AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721339428_USPresident.jpg)
Obama, Pelosi mahu Biden pertimbang undur diri daripada pilihan raya AS
Pelosi turut mengemukakan tinjauan pendapat yang menunjukkan Biden tidak akan mampu menewaskan calon Republikan, Donald Trump.
![Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721093818_JoeBiden.jpg)
Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama
Kenyataan Obama mengundang kecaman warganet terutamanya istilah 'keganasan politik' yang dikatakan menunjukkan sisi hipokrasi Washington.
![Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61692782695_Obamaschef.jpg)
Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan
Punca kematian diisytiharkan sebagai kes lemas dan cara kematian disahkan sebagai satu kemalangan.
![Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/51690258357_TafariCampbell.jpg)
Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas
Mendiang Campbell meninggalkan seorang isteri, Sherise dan sepasang anak kembar.
![Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012 Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/61680574517_LeonardoDiCaprio.jpg)
Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012
DiCaprio memberitahu juri bahawa Jho Low merancang untuk menderma sekitar AS$30 juta bagi membantu kempen pemilihan semula Barack Obama.
![Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/81679810080_TBSINGHARRIS.jpg)
Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika
Kamala Harris memulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika bermula hujung minggu ini.
![Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/71672348957_Pele.jpg)
Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele
Pele meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun selepas bertarung dengan kanser kolon.
![Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81662617460_TBOBAMAPOTRAIT.jpg)
Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi
Bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Barack Obama dan isteri Michelle Obama kembali ke Rumah Putih untuk melancarkan potret rasmi mereka.