Washington: The resolution, pushed through on a 52–47 vote with all Senate Democrats joined by five Republicans, directs that future military engagements in Venezuela require explicit congressional approval, a constitutional check many lawmakers say was bypassed during the surprise capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this month.

Senators backing the measure said the vote sends a clear message that Congress will not cede its war-making authority to the executive branch. “This isn’t about politics, it’s about the Constitution,” one supporter said, echoing concerns that unchecked presidential action could draw the U.S. into protracted conflicts with little oversight.

Critics of the administration argue the Venezuela operation set a troubling precedent, with shifting legal justifications from counter-terrorism to law enforcement.

Opponents of the measure, mostly Senate Republicans, countered that the Maduro seizure was a lawful action against a fugitive accused of drug trafficking and did not constitute a military engagement requiring new authorization. They argue the president has wide latitude as commander-in-chief to protect U.S. national security and interests.