Who has the authority to declare war?

The authority to declare war is vested in Congress as specified in the United States Constitution. Article I, Section 8 clearly assigns Congress the power to declare war, which reflects the framers' intention to ensure that such a significant decision would be made by a representative body rather than by a single individual. This requirement emphasizes the role of Congress as the voice of the people and serves to provide a system of checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches of government.

While the President acts as the Commander in Chief of the armed forces and has the authority to engage in military actions, the formal declaration of war must come from Congress. This distinction is crucial in maintaining the balance of power within the U.S. government and preventing unilateral military engagements.