Last Night's House Vote Makes It Official:
The  Bombing Of Yugoslavia Is Illegal
 WASHINGTON - April 29 -

JULES LOBEL
Professor of Constitutional and International Law at the University of                               Pittsburgh

MICHAEL RATNER,
Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights

Lobel and Ratner have litigated numerous cases challenging illegal                             wars including Dellums v. Bush, the case that forced President Bush
to obtain congressional authority for the Gulf War in 1991. In a joint
statement released today, they said: "In a remarkable vote against
the war in Yugoslavia, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 213
to 213, failed to give the President the constitutionally required
authorization he needed to carry on the air war against Yugoslavia.

The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. It
must give its affirmative assent. It did not do so. Contrary to the
President's statement that he will continue this war, he has no
 authority to do so. It would be a remarkable act of executive hubris
and illegal as well to continue the bombing. It is a serious subversion
of our constitutional structure (and is impeachable). His only option
is to end the aerial bombardment and negotiate a peaceful solution."

Relevant legal citations:

U.S. Constitution: Article I, Section 8.
"The Congress shall have power to... declare war..."

The War Powers Resolution, 50 U.S.C.A.
Sections 1541-1548.
Section 2(c): "The constitutional powers of the President as
Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into
 hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities
is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only
pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory
authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the
United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces."

Resultados de la votaciones

QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution
BILL TITLE: Authorizing the President of the United States to
Conduct Military Air Operations and Missile Strikes
Against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)

                                                si            no         no votan
REPUBLICAN                              31           187              4
DEMOCRATIC                            181            26              4
INDEPENDENT                            1

      TOTALS                            213            213               8