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

The power to declare war is vested in Congress according to the U.S. Constitution. This is established in Article I, Section 8, which explicitly grants Congress the authority to “declare war.” This division of power reflects the framers' intent to prevent any single entity from having unilateral control over military engagement, ensuring a system of checks and balances where both the legislative branch (Congress) and the executive branch (the President) are involved in decisions related to military actions.

In practice, while the President serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and can direct military actions, the formal declaration of war must come from Congress. This structure encourages deliberation and requires input from elected representatives when it comes to engaging in warfare, thus holding the government accountable to the public.

The other choices reflect roles that are integral to governance but do not have the direct authority to declare war. The President, while having significant military power, cannot declare war without Congressional approval. The Senate, as part of Congress, has some influence over military matters, particularly regarding treaties and confirmation of military appointments, but the declaration of war itself is a power held by the entire Congress. The Supreme Court's role is to interpret laws and the Constitution rather than to engage in the declaration of