The only thing in the loop to create an appearance of stopping the president from acting is the War Powers Act, originally from 1973. But it is limited. Except in an emergency, it requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without a Congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by the United States. It does not give congress the authority to stop the president from dispatching troops and using them for up to 60 days with a 30 day withdraw period without their declaration of war.
This has been done by almost every president since Truman. The last one done by Obama sending troops into Lybia without congressional approval. Carter went into Iran, Clinton bombed Yugoslavia, Reagan into Lebanon, Johnson into Vietnam. Factually the only presidents to actually use congress were President George W. Bush who was given the go-ahead by lawmakers for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and President George H.W. Bush received congressional backing for the Gulf War.
The acts of the presidents have been challenged in the supreme court but would not be heard as there was no legal precedence to over rule the existing voted act until after the 90 day period was violated. Then the law could be enforced and troops withdrawn. But it’s never happened.
rwood
And you can judge the practice by its results.
Which every President has used since 1973.