Historical Documents - William J. Olson, P.C., Attorneys At Law

U.S. Constitutional Provisions Authorizing Creation of Federal Criminal Offenses

Patrick Henry Speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” (March 23, 1775)

Declarations of War

Declaration of War against the United Kingdom of Great Britain (June 18, 1812)

Declaration of War against the Republic of Mexico (May 13, 1846)

Declaration of War against the Kingdom of Spain (April 25, 1898)

Declaration of War against the Imperial German Government (April 6, 1917)

Declaration of War against the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Government (December 7, 1917)

Declaration of War against the Imperial Government of Japan (December 8, 1941)

Declaration of War against the Government of Germany (December 11, 1941)

Declaration of War against the Government of Italy (December 11, 1941)

Declaration of War against the Government of Bulgaria (June 5, 1942)

Declaration of War against the Government of Hungary (June 5, 1942)

Declaration of War against the Government of Rumania (June 5, 1942)

Executive Orders and Proclamations Declaring National Emergencies

President Wilson was the first President to declare a national emergency, on February 5, 1917. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S Truman, Richard M. Nixon, James E. Carter, Ronald W. Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George Walker Bush have all issued national emergency declarations. The following links provide the text of these executive orders and proclamations.

Congressional Actions Related to the Middle East

Resolution urging the President to act immediately, using unilateral and multilateral measures, to seek the full and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwaiti territory, Senate Resolution 318 (August 1, 1990)

United States Policy on Iraqi Aggression Resolution, House Joint Resolution 658 (October 1, 1990)

Resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the crisis created byIraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait must be addressed and resolved on its own terms separately from other conflicts in the region, House Concurrent Resolution 382 (October 23, 1990)

Iraq Sanctions Act of 1990, Public Law 101-513 (November 5, 1990)

Economic Sanctions Against the Republic of Iraq, Public Law 101-510 (November 5, 1990)

Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, Public Law 102-1 (January 14, 1991)

Iraq and the Requirements of Security Council Resolution 687 & 688, Public Law 102-190 (December 5, 1991)

1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, Public Law 105-174 (May 1, 1998)

Iraqi Breach of International Obligations, Public Law 105-235 (August 14, 1998)

Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, Public Law 105-338 (October 31, 1998)

Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Those Responsible for the Recent Attacks Launched Against the United States, Public Law 107-40 (September 18, 2001)

Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, Public Law 107-243 (October 16, 2002)

Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, Public Law 108–175 (December 12, 2003)

Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act of 2005, Public Law 109–112 (November 22, 2005)

Iran Freedom Support Act, Public Law 109–293 (September 30, 2006)

Legal Research — Source Material

Congressional Research Service Annual Reports

Congressional Research Service
Health Care: Constitutional Rights and Legislative Powers
Kathleen S. Swendiman, Legislative Attorney
(July 9, 2012)

Modern Political Statements

The Sharon Statement
Adopted at the Founding of Young Americans for Freedom
(largely authored by M. Stanton Evans)
September 11, 1960

Ronald Reagan: “A Time for Choosing”
October 27, 1964
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