One of the many bold, indeed brave, remarks the King made during his address to both houses of the US Congress concerned the genius of the American constitution and Magna Carta, “not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances”. Yet despite this timely reminder, many legislators in the audience seem disinclined to exert their constitutional power as equal partners in the governance of the United States, nor even be stirred to uphold the laws they themselves enacted. So it is that the Republican majorities will not enforce the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires a president to terminate a military campaign at the end of the 60-day period unless Congress has declared war or authorised the use of military force. In the case of Iran, it has done neither. That resolution was passed during a previous period of imperial presidential overreach when lawmakers were attempting to wind down the war in Southeast Asia, and was actually a dilution of the power the constitution confers on …