The Canons of War

Abstract

War powers hang in a delicate balance, with conflicting statutes overlying contrasting constitutional prerogatives. As Congress has filled nearly every shadowy corner of Justice Jackson's "zone of twilight" with its own imprimatur, war powers debates now hinge on traditional statutory interpretation, albeit in a unique context. This Note establishes context-specific canons for interpreting war powers legislation and effectuating its underlying values, aiming to provide principled resolution to seemingly intractable conflicts. In so doing, it draws upon the complete set of judicial opinions assessing authorizations of the use of military force and analyzes the institutional framework beneath them.