Congress overrides Nixon veto to enact War Powers Resolution, requiring president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces

Congress enacted the War Powers Resolution on November 7, 1973, overriding President Nixon's veto by votes of 284-135 in the House and 75-18 in the Senate. The resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to hostilities and bars military operations from continuing beyond 60 days without congressional authorization or a declaration of war. Nixon vetoed the bill on October 24, 1973, calling it an unconstitutional restriction on presidential authority — just four days after he fired Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox.