Question

i need this class done to graduate please help im horrible with american history !!! What authority did the president gain through the Tonkin Gulf Resolution that was normally a power reserved for Congress?

Answer 1

The ability to send conventional military forces to Southeast Asia without a declaration of war from Congress.

Essentially, President Johnson could now send "whatever" he thought necessary to expand the proxy war against the communists in North Vietnam by helping allied forces. Normally, you would need to work with Congress to do this, but the resolution made it so that the President could simply order up military forces like fast food and send them over without their say so.

It was repealed later on with the War Powers Resolution which required the President to consult with Congress first before committing military forces anywhere, but that was several years later.