Defending every attack doesnt seem smart. Cant we go on offense . And he said, when i go beyond the line of defense, i cant do that without the sanction of congress. So it was very clear initially from the beginning that a president could defend against imminent attack without congress, although you should get congress on board later. Congress though had to declare war, any going on offense against anyone other than imminent defense, took a congressional declaration. That was the clear understanding. But we have gotten it wrong virtually sense the ink was dry. It doesnt matter whether president s or congresss or republican or democrat or wig or federalist, we have gotten it wrong. We have gotten it wrong because madison was half right but he want cynical enough. Madison described the provision of the war powers provisions as a check against executive power. The branch most prone po war, most interested in it. We put it in the legislative branch. He saw monarchs and executives overreach