Editorials & Other Articles

There's you answer. In some abstract sense.

Does the WPA give Trump 60 days to engage in some military action, subject to a 48-hour period to report his actions to Congress, yes. And that authority extends to a total of 60 days, with a 30-day period for troop withdrawal.

Have presidents always obeyed the Constitution? No. Not for over 70 years. Have those since a (D) Congress overrode Nixon's veto of the WPA? No. Most of those few decided that a AUMF from 2001 even gave them carte blanche and pushed back again Congressfolks' claim of Constitutional violation--"hey, it's against terrorism per the AUMF and nobody can second guess me, senator." Mostly Congress rolled over. (R) legislators don't nail (R) presidents, (D) legislators don't nail (D) presidents.

Note that in the majority of the violations no declaration of war was even clearly forthcoming from the attacked country. It was "one and done."

Whether Iran considers themselves at war with the US is an important question but not this particular question.