And Congress passed a law saying that they aren't needed for military action.
This is exactly my point. They passed a law which is in violation of the Constitution. Congress can't just pass a law making it illegal to vote if you are under the age of 30. They can't just pass a law to make Presbyterianism the official state religion. These things would require an amendment to the Constitution. How is this different?
The Constitution is not even remotely clear on what is required for military action, but go ahead and quote some of it here if you find anything.
Today I learned why we don't have a Navy National Guard, something about the states not keeping Ships of War. That's also the only place I see "engaging in war". If the authors wanted to be more clear about article I and II powers they certainly could have.
It says the President is Commander in Chief, and it says Congress can declare War. There is shit else in-between those two powers. If Congress wants to pass an act authorizing the president to do something he could arguably already do with his powers, it just removes the need to argue.
I'm curious how would you label blockading a port, if a nation invites us to do it? When does that action become engaging in war, pretending that text was even in articles I or II. If they invite us over to drop bombs on some people, how is that different?
What ARE the limits of article II powers?