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The "World's Greatest Deliberative Body" And The Decision To Invade: The Rhetoric Of Senatorial Debate On S.J.Res. 46, Henry Russell Castillo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

On the issue of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, many in the public view President George W. Bush as the primary actor in its execution. Yet Bush explicitly sought congressional approval before employing military force. In doing so, he elevated Congress’ role in the Iraq crisis. A plethora of academic research exists on how Bush attempted to persuade the public that invading Iraq was the correct choice. However, a dearth of scholarship exists on how Congress, specifically the Senate, deliberated on this decision. As a chamber often labeled the “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body,” the Senate carries constitutionally-unique responsibilities in …