The legislative and executive branches have long fought over the power to conduct wars. Even after passage of the 1973 War Powers Act, imperial presidents of both parties have often ignored congressional resolutions and existing laws designed to limit offensive military actions. When lawmakers have filed lawsuits to try to enforce those statutes, the courts have dismissed the cases, citing, among other reasons, the so-called political questions doctrine, which says that such matters should be fought out between the two branches without judicial intervention.