The National Emergencies Act (NEA) (Pub.L. 94–412, 90 Stat. 1255, enacted September 14, 1976, codified at 50 U.S.C. § 1601–1651) is a United States federal law passed to end all previous national states of emergency and to formalize the emergencies powers of the President.
The Act empowers the President to activate special powers during a crisis but imposes certain procedural formalities when invoking such powers. The perceived need for the law arose from the scope and number of laws granting special powers to the executive in times of national emergency. Congress can undo a state of emergency declaration with either a joint resolution and the President's signature, or with a veto-proof (two-thirds) majority vote.[1] Powers available under this Act are limited to the 136 emergency powers Congress has defined by law.[2]
The legislation was signed by President Gerald Ford on September 14, 1976.[3] As of February 2019, 59 national emergencies have been declared, and the United States is under 31 continuing declared states of national emergency.[1][4]
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, enacted in 1977, falls under the National Emergencies Act, which means that an emergency declared under that Act must be renewed annually to remain in effect.
|