What is one key restriction placed on the president's authority by the National Emergencies Act of 1976?

The key restriction placed on the president’s authority by the National Emergencies Act of 1976 is that Congress has the power to terminate presidential emergencies. This act was designed to ensure that while the president can declare a national emergency, there are checks in place to prevent the potential abuse of this power.

Under the National Emergencies Act, once a president declares a national emergency, Congress can review that declaration and has the authority to end it through a joint resolution. This legislative oversight serves as a crucial balance to executive power, ensuring that emergency declarations cannot be maintained indefinitely without legislative support.

This mechanism reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to distribute power between branches of government, preventing any single branch, including the executive, from wielding excessive authority unchecked.