Abstract
While drones are a significant asset to the United States Military, their presence also presents unique challenges. The ability to stalk and engage in assassination style killings of high-ranking foreign military officials without ever placing United States forces presents a new issue where the President can intrude on Congress’s power to declare war. This is especially true with regard to the War Powers Resolution, which requires military action without congressional authorization to be limited in nature, scope, and duration. While the Soleimani strike fell short of violating this part of the War Powers Resolution test, perhaps only due to the benefit of hindsight, it still serves as a chilling warning of how quickly drone technology can alter international relations in deadly ways.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Christopher A.
(2025)
"Drone Assassinations: The Limits of the President’s Constitutional Authority to Strike Foreign Military Officers with Drones Without Congressional Approval,"
Utah Law Review: Vol. 2025:
No.
5, Article 6.
Available at:
https://dc.law.utah.edu/ulr/vol2025/iss5/6