Who has the power to declare war?

The power to declare war is vested in Congress according to the U.S. Constitution. This authority is established in Article I, Section 8, which specifies that Congress has the power to declare war and to raise and support armies. This provision ensures that the decision to go to war is a legislative one, reflecting the democratic principle that such significant actions should involve representation from the citizenry through their elected officials.

While the President can act as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and has the authority to direct military operations and manage national defense, they cannot unilaterally declare war. This separation of powers is a fundamental aspect of the U.S. political system, ensuring checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches. The other choices do not hold the constitutional authority to declare war: the Supreme Court interprets laws, while the Vice President's role primarily involves supporting the President without any legislative powers of their own.