As U.S. actions in Iran and Venezuela spark debate, partisan divides over presidential war powers hit record levels
As debate over U.S. military action against Iran intensifies, a new report from the Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University finds that most Americans believe presidents should obtain congressional approval before using military force, even as partisan divisions have grown increasingly sharp.
The report, "Public Opinion on Congressional Approval for Military Force," draws on more than four decades of survey data on presidential war powers and is part of the IGC's broader effort to foster civic understanding and engagement through public polling.
Key findings:
- In 2026, roughly 70% of Americans say presidents should obtain congressional approval before taking military action.
- Support for requiring congressional approval has consistently exceeded 50% since 1980, peaking at 86% in 2013.
- The partisan divide now exceeds 40 percentage points: 90% of Democrats favor requiring congressional approval, compared to 48% of Republicans.
- Americans are more likely to support obtaining congressional approval when the opposing party holds the presidency.
- Republican support for requiring congressional approval drops sharply after military action begins (from around 59% before action to 26% after), while Democratic support remains consistently high, at about 95-96%.
"In the abstract, the public wants Congress involved before military force is used," said Ryan Owens, director of the IGC. "But the partisan gap tells us that people don't apply that principle consistently when their own party holds the White House."
The report also shows that opinions can shift quickly once military action is underway. In the most recent cases, Republican support for requiring congressional approval dropped substantially after strikes began, while Democratic support stayed consistently high.
"The broad pattern is stable," said Zach Goldberg, author of the report. "Who is in power - as well as whether action has already been taken - makes a real difference in how people answer these questions."
Read the full findings and access data and figures in the latest report here: Public Opinion on Congressional Approval for Military Force.
About the Institute for Governance and Civics
The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University is dedicated to creating the next generation of effective citizens and responsible leaders. Established in 2023, the IGC supports a variety of initiatives that promote constitutional liberty, economic liberty, conscience liberty, and educational liberty through data-driven research, excellence in teaching, and intellectually diverse exchange. To learn more about the IGC, visit igc.fsu.edu or follow on Facebook, X, Instagram
