Congress should vote a declaration of war before the Bush administration is allowed to invade Iraq, according to several Kansas University professors and hundreds of their colleagues nationwide.

“Only Congress can declare war. I think the president has forgotten that,” said Bill Tuttle, a KU professor of American studies and petition signer. “Also, we’ve had a bad experience anytime we do this without declaring war. The best example is the Vietnam War.”

Tuttle is one of four KU professors among the 1,200 historians who signed a petition urging Congress to debate and vote on invading Iraq. The petition will be sent Tuesday to Congress.

The other KU signers are Tony Clark, assistant professor of American studies, and Norm Yetman and David Katzman, both professors of American studies.

The petition originated with Joyce Appleby, a retired history professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, and Ellen Carol DuBois, a history professor at UCLA. They circulated it nationwide via e-mail.

Tuesday’s presentation will coincide with a quarter-page ad in The New York Times explaining the petition.

“I hope this triggers similar efforts by groups around the country,” Tuttle said. “At this point, instead of mobilizing in the streets, it would be better to sign petitions.”

Several Kansas lawmakers said Friday they expected Congress to be involved in decisions on Iraq.

“If they want Congress to talk about it, I think it’s going to happen,” said U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat. “They can send the petition, but I think it’s going to happen anyway.”

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said Bush’s Thursday speech to the United Nations helped prove that the president wouldn’t be the only one making decisions about Iraq.

“I am pleased the president is giving the world a chance to recognize and confront this danger as a united front,” Brownback said. “The president must have a vote from Congress on this issue before adjourning.”

Rep. Jim Ryun, another Kansas Republican, agreed.

“(The petition) just supports what I feel and many in the district do,” he said. “We need to be prepared to confront weapons of mass destruction, but let’s debate this and make sure there’s as much information made available in public as possible so the decision can be a clear one.”

Sen. Pat Roberts wasn’t available for comment Friday. But his spokeswoman, Sarah Ross, said Roberts supported efforts for congressional involvement on the issue.

“I think his views would be along with theirs,” she said.