Who has the power to declare war?

The power to declare war is assigned to Congress according to the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article I, Section 8. This section grants Congress the authority to make decisions regarding war and military engagements, recognizing the importance of legislative oversight in matters of national defense and significant military action.

This design reflects the Founding Fathers' intention that such a weighty decision should not rest with a single individual or the executive branch, which might act impulsively. The framers believed that by entrusting Congress with this power, a broader representation of the people and their elected representatives would be involved in decisions that could lead to loss of life and significant expenditure of resources.

While the President does serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and has the power to direct military forces once engaged, the initial decision to enter into war requires approval from Congress, highlighting the balance of power intended to prevent unilateral military action by any one branch of government.