What is the role of Congress in challenging the President’s war making power?

Answer 1

Under the Constitution, only the Congress has the power to make war. Once war has been declared, the President, as Commander in Chief is charged with the responsibility to prosecute the war. Congress can then, through the appropriation process, fund the war (allowing the President to continue prosecution of the war) or de-fund (essentially 'un-declaring' war) it.

Of course, none of this (with the exception of the funding power of the Congress) has anything to do with Iraq, where the constitutional process ( a legal declaration of war) was side-stepped by both the Administration and the Congress.

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Answer 2

Congress has what is commonly referred to as the power of the purse, meaning that even though the president, as commander in chief can send the troops to whatever country, congress has the authority to decide where the money used to send those troops there goes, no money, no war, they also have the ability to declare war, they are the only body in the U.S. with that capibility.

Answer 3

They have the power to declare war and withdraw a declaration of war. The power to manage the conduct of the war is quite limited, but funding is entirely at Congress's discretion.

Answer 4

They have the power to cut off his funds.

That's about it.