WI: Ludlow Amendment Passes

What if the Ludlow Amendment, which would have required a national referendum in order to declare war (unless the U.S. is directly attacked), was passed, and became part of the Constitution? The actual text of the amendment is:

SEC. 1. Except in the event of an invasion of the United States or its Territorial possessions and attack upon its citizens residing therein, the authority of Congress to declare war shall not become effective until confirmed by a majority of all votes cast thereon in a Nation-wide referendum. Congress, when it deems a national crisis to exist, may by concurrent resolution refer the question of war or peace to the citizens of the States, the question to be voted on being, Shall the United States declare war on ________? Congress may otherwise by law provide for the enforcement of this section.

SEC. 2. Whenever war is declared the President shall immediately conscript and take for use by the Government all the public and private war properties, yards, factories, and supplies, together with employees necessary for their operation, fixing the compensation for private properties temporarily employed for the war period at a rate not in excess of 4 percent based on tax values assessed in the year preceding the war.

There certainly wouldn't have been a referendum for declaring war on Japan, since that was an actual attack on the United States. At first I thought this would eliminate the possibility of all the interventions following World War II, but then I remembered that the United States didn't declare war on any of those countries.
 
Any President after Ludlow Amendment-

"Hm yes, we would need to vote to declare war. *lightbulb* But this is no war, its a... police actionnn oooOOOOoooo."
 

PipBoy2999

Banned
Well, I think the invasion of Afghanistan would fall within the bounds of this law. Whether or not the world situation would be such that the events leading to 9/11 would still occur I can't really say.
 
Since Germany and Italy did not attack us we would have needed a referendum to declare war against them. It would have passed but it would have delayed the war effort in Europe. Since there have been no declarations of war since World War II, the Ludlow Amendment would have no effect during the last 55 years.
 
Well, I think the invasion of Afghanistan would fall within the bounds of this law. Whether or not the world situation would be such that the events leading to 9/11 would still occur I can't really say.

I don't think it would, it was not an invasion. It wasn't even by a state, just a bunch of Saudis.
 
Since Germany and Italy did not attack us we would have needed a referendum to declare war against them. It would have passed but it would have delayed the war effort in Europe. Since there have been no declarations of war since World War II, the Ludlow Amendment would have no effect during the last 55 years.

Germany declared war on the US not the other way round (probably Hitlers stupidist move ever), so the US would be at war by default, you can't say "Sorry could ya wait a few months before attacking our shipping while we hold a vote?" can you?
 
The benefit would be that you would know where all the traitors are - after the referendum passes, the government can lock up all those who voted no! :D
 
Well, I think the invasion of Afghanistan would fall within the bounds of this law. Whether or not the world situation would be such that the events leading to 9/11 would still occur I can't really say.

No it wouldn't. Note what the amendment said: the authority of Congress to declare war shall not become effective until confirmed by a majority of all votes cast thereon in a Nation-wide referendum. Congress has not declared war since 1942;
 
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