Senate Joint Resolution No. 17

Introduced by Senator Anderson

September 5, 2013

Senate Joint Resolution No. 17—Relative to the Syrian government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SJR 17, as introduced, Anderson. Syrian government: military action.

This measure would urge President Barack Obama to obtain congressional authorization prior to using military force against the Assad regime in Syria in accordance with the United States Constitution, and would urge United States Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to request that the President obtain congressional approval prior to taking military action against the Assad regime in Syria.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Clause 11 of Section 8 of Article I of the United
States Constitution grants exclusive power to Congress to declare
war; and

WHEREAS, Neither the Syrian Government nor President
Bashar Al-Assad has directly attacked any vital security interests
of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Legitimate uncertainty exists as to what the
character and makeup of a post-President Al-Assad Syrian regime
will be; and

WHEREAS, The American people through their chosen
Congressional Representatives should have their constitutional
rights defended in order to determine the true necessity of escalated
United States military involvement; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California,
on behalf of its citizens, urges President Barack Obama to obtain
congressional authorization prior to using military force against
the Assad regime in Syria; and be it further

Resolved, That United States Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne
Feinstein request that President Barack Obama obtains
congressional authorization prior to any military action against the
Assad regime in Syria; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the
Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative
from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the
author for appropriate distribution.