Historically, it has been assumed that war is violence and declarations of war are simply public announcements that serve to initiate combat. Brien Hallett denies both assumptions and claims that war is policy, not violence. The Lost Art of Declaring War analyzes the crucial differences between combat and war and convincingly argues that the power to "declare" war is in actuality the power to compose a text, draft a document, write a denunciation. Once written, the declaration then serves three functions: to articulate the political purposes of the war, to guide and direct military operations, and to establish the boundary between justified combat and unjustified devastation. Hallett sounds a clarion call urging the people and their representatives to take up the challenge and write fully reasoned declarations of war. Then, and only then, can a civilized nation like the United States lay claim to being fully democratic, not only in peacetime, but in wartime as well. "Brien Hallett has fashioned an original, incisive, and powerful argument for the proper standards for going to war. Tightly reasoned throughout and well timed to address the conceptual confusion that now reigns." -- Louis Fisher, author of Presidential War Power

Historically, it has been assumed that war is violence and declarations of war are simply public announcements that serve to initiate combat. Brien Hallett denies both assumptions and claims that war is policy, not violence. The Lost Art of Declaring War analyzes the crucial differences between combat and war and convincingly argues that the power to "declare" war is in actuality the power to compose a text, draft a document, write a denunciation. Once written, the declaration then serves three functions: to articulate the political purposes of the war, to guide and direct military operations, and to establish the boundary between justified combat and unjustified devastation. Hallett sounds a clarion call urging the people and their representatives to take up the challenge and write fully reasoned declarations of war. Then, and only then, can a civilized nation like the United States lay claim to being fully democratic, not only in peacetime, but in wartime as well.

Declaring War directly challenges the 200-year-old belief that Congress can and should declare war. By offering a detailed analysis of the declarations of 1812, 1898 and the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the book demonstrates the extent of the organizational and moral incapacity of Congress to declare war. It invokes Carl von Clausewitz's dictum that 'war is policy' to explain why declarations of war are an integral part of war and proposes two possible remedies - a constitutional amendment or, alternatively, a significant re-organization of Congress. It offers a comprehensive historical, legal, constitutional, moral and philosophical analysis of why Congress has failed to check an imperial presidency. The book draws on Roman history and international law to clarify the form, function and language of declarations of war and John Austin's speech act theory.

Learn how to win the war in your mind by filling your heart with the truth of the Holy Spirit and defending yourself against harmful thought patterns. Whether you recognize it or not, you're at war with yourself. Anxiety--Selfishness--Self-sabotaging tendencies--Narcissism--The black dog of depression... But whatever your battle may be, all is not lost. You can win...if you choose to engage. In this five-session video Bible study (DVD sold separately), Levi Lusko explains how you can fight this battle by declaring war on your thoughts, your words, and your actions. Levi candidly shares about his struggles with moodiness, bullying, suicidal thoughts, and night terrors to show how you--with the help of the Holy Spirit--can achieve victory by learning to think right so you can live right. So that you can claim the victory God has for you. The I Declare War Study Guide includes: Video teaching notes Discussion questions Bible exploration Weekly personal study Reflection materials Sessions include: It's Time to Declare War Declaring War on Your Thoughts Declaring War on Your Words Declaring War on Your Actions Your Secret Weapon in the Battle It's time to stop being your own worst enemy. It's time to declare war and become the person, the spouse, the parent, the leader God intended you to be. Designed for use with I Declare War Video Study (9780310094913), sold separately.

A noteworthy development in recent history has been the disappearance of formal declarations of war. Using primary sources, this book examines the history of declaring war in the early modern era up to the writing of the US Constitution to identify the influence of early modern history on the framing of the Constitution.

In Nurturing the Imperial Presidency, Brien Hallett asks, "Why have national war leaders always decided and declared war?" Because they have always controlled the drafting of the declaration of war. Ways to remove this control are explored; alternatives are proposed.