Who has the power to declare war according to the U.S. Constitution?

The United States Constitution grants the power to declare war to Congress. This authority is outlined in Article I, Section 8, which delineates the powers of the legislative branch. The framers of the Constitution ascribed this power to Congress to ensure that such a significant decision would require deliberation and approval from the elected representatives of the people, rather than being unilaterally made by the executive branch. This legislative control over declarations of war is intended to reflect the democratic principle that the decision to engage in military conflict should involve broader consensus among representatives of the citizens.

While the President serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and can direct military operations, the formal declaration of war remains a congressional prerogative, reflecting a system of checks and balances between the branches of government. This dichotomy ensures that actions leading to warfare are subjected to legislative oversight, aligning military engagement with public and governmental accountability.