Which branch of the United States Federal government has the power to declare war on another nation?

Question

Or can all branches declare war?

Answer 1

Congress.... This is why our last 4 major and umpteen minor conflicts have not been "wars".

Declaring "war" would put too many senators and congressmen/women at risk of actually being blamed for having "cohones" (right or wrong), so the President invokes his powers as Commander in Chief and commands the military with or without Congressional approval.

Why declare a war when you can have the same effect without all the messy due process?

It's much easier to start wars...err...conflicts, actions, struggles, events, engagements, operations, missions, whatever tjhe way we do now.

Answer 2

The Congress.

The Congress shall have Power To Declare War.+Article I, Section 8, Clause 11, The Constitution of the United States of America.

Answer 3

Hello,

That would be Congress.

Congress
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress alone the authority to formally declare war. But in several past conflicts Congress has relinquished this authority to the president. In fact, Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war since World War II.

U.S. presidents after World War II have assumed most of the authority to send U.S. troops into battle. The Korean War (1950-1953), for example, was regarded by the U.S. government as a police action rather than as a war, and President Harry S. Truman never sought a declaration of war from Congress. And in 1964 Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which effectively ceded to President Lyndon B. Johnson the ability to wage war against Vietnam. Congress passed a similar resolution on January 12, 1991, authorizing President George H. W. Bush to use force against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War.

The current president Bush also never sought a formal declaration of war from Congress. Instead, he requested, and received, the authority to use armed forces "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" to defend American interests against "the continuing threat posed by Iraq."


Hope this helps you............................................................... :-)

Answer 4

Only the Congress has the power to declare war, however the President has the authority to send the armed forces into conflict for 48 hours before going to congress for permission to continue the conflict.

Answer 5

The Legislative Branch, which is the House Of Representatives and The Senate, has the power to declare War on another country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

The legislative branch, although this perogative of Congress has slowly eroded over the year as Congress has given the President increased power to CONDUCT war as an undeclared de facto state of war.

Answer 7

It takes a majority vote from the House of Representatives to "declare war" on another country. But the President can "take us to war" without declaring war. Declaring war gives the government certain rights to enhance the war effort, like turning car factories into tank factories without anyones consent, special war taxes and things like that.

Answer 8

Congress has the power to declare war.

Answer 9

The correct answer is only the President can declare war. But even his powers are limited to a few days. After that he needs the congress to give approval in order to continue that fight. So says the war powers act of 1973.

Answer 10

Congress