(CNN) – The US House of Representatives approved the resolution of Iran’s Powers of War in a vote of 224-194. The resolution aims to restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to use military actions against Iran without the approval of Congress.
Republican representatives Matt Gaetz, Thomas Massie and Francis Rooney crossed the party lines to vote for the resolution, while Democratic representatives Max Rose, Ben McAdams, Anthony Brindisi, Joe Cunningham, Elaine Luria, Josh Gottheimer, Kendra Horn and Stephanie Murphy voted against the resolution.
Now that the resolution has been approved by the House, it will go to the Senate.
The structure of the House resolution is unique, however, as there is doubt whether it is really legally binding. It was introduced as a concurrent resolution, a type of resolution often used for “sense of Congress” bills. They do not go to the president to obtain a signature, and they are not legally binding.
But House Democrats argue that concurrent resolutions under the War Powers Act are a special case and are legally binding. Republicans, however, say the resolution is not binding.
Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst and democrat, is the author of the resolution, which calls the president “to suspend the use of the Armed Forces of U.S to participate in hostilities in Iran or against Iran ”unless Congress declares war or promulgates a“ specific legal authorization ”for the use of the armed forces.
– .
