1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent to express my deep alarm over the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro from his country. I strongly denounce this action, and I urge you to take swift action to uphold the Constitution, respect international law, and prevent further unauthorized military escalation. The Constitution clearly vests the power to declare war and authorize military force in Congress, not in a single individual. Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the exclusive authority to declare war and regulate captures on land and water. This separation exists so that no president may commit the United States to armed conflict without representative oversight. Further, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. 1541–48) was enacted precisely to prevent presidents from using U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities without prior consultation and authorization by Congress. Under this law: • The president must consult with Congress “in every possible instance” before introducing forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities. • The president must notify Congress within 48 hours of committing military forces. • Armed forces must be withdrawn after 60 days if Congress has not authorized the use of military force by that time. None of these requirements appear to have been satisfied before or even during the recent strikes and capture of Venezuela’s leader. In fact, Congress was reportedly not informed in advance of the operation. Moreover, legally justifying the abduction of a foreign head of state as law enforcement stretches - and potentially violates - established international law standards. Legal experts and elected officials have raised serious concerns that this raid amounts to an act of war against a sovereign nation. This executive unilateralism undermines the constitutional balance of power and sets a dangerous precedent for foreign intervention. It erodes democratic accountability and risks dragging the United States into open conflict without the consent of the people’s representatives. For the sake of the rule of law, respect for sovereign nations, and adherence to the U.S. Constitution, I respectfully request that you: • Demand a full briefing from the Administration on the legal basis for the operation; • Introduce or support legislation asserting Congress’s exclusive authority over declarations of war and the use of military force; • Hold hearings to determine whether the War Powers Resolution and other statutes have been violated; and • Oppose any further unauthorized military escalation without explicit Congressional approval. Thank you for your attention to this urgent constitutional and moral issue.