Who has the power to declare war?

The power to declare war is vested in Congress as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, Article I, Section 8 states that Congress has the authority to declare war, raise and support armies, and make rules for the regulation of the military. This division of power ensures that the decision to engage in armed conflict involves both legislative debate and representation, reflecting the democratic principle that such significant decisions should not be made unilaterally by one individual or branch of government.

While the President serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and can direct military operations, this role does not extend to formally declaring war. Therefore, the President can respond to threats and manage military actions without a declaration, but the definitive power to declare war lies with Congress to ensure checks and balances in governance. The responsibilities of the other choices—such as the Supreme Court or the Secretary of Defense—do not include declaring war; they have roles related to judicial review and military administration, respectively, but do not possess war declaration authority.