U.S. Senate: About Declarations of War by Congress

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html class="">  <head> <META http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="object" content="declarations-of-war.xml"> <meta name="version" content="9.1"> <meta name="path" content="/Company Home/Sites/senategov/documentLibrary/Senate.gov/about/powers-procedures"> <meta name="date" content="Tuesday, March 12, 2024"> <meta name="time" content="10:35:34 AM EDT"> <meta name="keywords" content=""> <meta name="bucket" content="history"> <meta name="description" content=""> <title>U.S. Senate: About Declarations of War by Congress</title> <link type="image/x-icon" rel="shortcut icon" href="/resources/images/us_sen.ico"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/boilerplate.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/main.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/nav_menu.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/skdslider.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/fonts/gFonts.css?family=Source+Sans+Pro:400,300,600,700,300italic,400italic,600italic,700italic"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/fonts/gFonts.css?family=Source+Serif+Pro:400,600,700"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/fonts/gFonts.css?family=Libre+Baskerville:400,400italic,700"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/fonts/css/font-awesome.min.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/print.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/content.css">  <script type="text/javascript"> function MM_goToURL() { //v3.0 var i, args=MM_goToURL.arguments; document.MM_returnValue = false; for (i=0; i<(args.length-1); i+=2) eval(args[i]+".location='"+args[i+1]+"'"); } </script> <script type="text/javascript"> function MM_jumpMenu(targ,selObj,restore){ //v3.0 eval(targ+".location='"+selObj.options[selObj.selectedIndex].value+"'"); if (restore) selObj.selectedIndex=0; } </script><script src="/resources/scripts/jquery-1.11.3.min.js"></script><script src="/resources/scripts/skdslider.min.js"></script><script src="/resources/scripts/main.js"></script><script src="/resources/scripts/floor_status.js"></script> </head> <body onload="myFunction()"> <a href="#skip" class="offscreen">Skip Content</a> <header class="mobilehead clearfix"> <div id="top-header"> <CFPARAM NAME="URL.q" DEFAULT=""> <div id="find-sen" class="row"> <div id="flag" class="fluid "><img src="/resources/images/usFlag.png" alt="U.S. Flag" /></div> <div id="sen-dropdown-container" class="fluid "> <form name="findSenators" method="post"> <label for="findsenator" /> <select name="stateName" class="arrow" id="findsenator" onChange="MM_jumpMenu('parent',this,0)"> <option value="/states/">Find Your Senators</option> <option value="/states/AL/intro.htm">Alabama</option> <option value="/states/AK/intro.htm">Alaska</option> <option value="/states/AZ/intro.htm">Arizona</option> <option value="/states/AR/intro.htm">Arkansas</option> <option value="/states/CA/intro.htm">California</option> <option value="/states/CO/intro.htm">Colorado</option> <option value="/states/CT/intro.htm">Connecticut</option> <option value="/states/DE/intro.htm">Delaware</option> <option value="/states/FL/intro.htm">Florida</option> <option value="/states/GA/intro.htm">Georgia</option> <option value="/states/HI/intro.htm">Hawaii</option> <option value="/states/ID/intro.htm">Idaho</option> <option value="/states/IL/intro.htm">Illinois</option> <option value="/states/IN/intro.htm">Indiana</option> <option value="/states/IA/intro.htm">Iowa</option> <option value="/states/KS/intro.htm">Kansas</option> <option value="/states/KY/intro.htm">Kentucky</option> <option value="/states/LA/intro.htm">Louisiana</option> <option value="/states/ME/intro.htm">Maine</option> <option value="/states/MD/intro.htm">Maryland</option> <option value="/states/MA/intro.htm">Massachusetts</option> <option value="/states/MI/intro.htm">Michigan</option> <option value="/states/MN/intro.htm">Minnesota</option> <option value="/states/MS/intro.htm">Mississippi</option> <option value="/states/MO/intro.htm">Missouri</option> <option value="/states/MT/intro.htm">Montana</option> <option value="/states/NE/intro.htm">Nebraska</option> <option value="/states/NV/intro.htm">Nevada</option> <option value="/states/NH/intro.htm">New Hampshire</option> <option value="/states/NJ/intro.htm">New Jersey</option> <option value="/states/NM/intro.htm">New Mexico</option> <option value="/states/NY/intro.htm">New York</option> <option value="/states/NC/intro.htm">North Carolina</option> <option value="/states/ND/intro.htm">North Dakota</option> <option value="/states/OH/intro.htm">Ohio</option> <option value="/states/OK/intro.htm">Oklahoma</option> <option value="/states/OR/intro.htm">Oregon</option> <option value="/states/PA/intro.htm">Pennsylvania</option> <option value="/states/RI/intro.htm">Rhode Island</option> <option value="/states/SC/intro.htm">South Carolina</option> <option value="/states/SD/intro.htm">South Dakota</option> <option value="/states/TN/intro.htm">Tennessee</option> <option value="/states/TX/intro.htm">Texas</option> <option value="/states/UT/intro.htm">Utah</option> <option value="/states/VT/intro.htm">Vermont</option> <option value="/states/VA/intro.htm">Virginia</option> <option value="/states/WA/intro.htm">Washington</option> <option value="/states/WV/intro.htm">West Virginia</option> <option value="/states/WI/intro.htm">Wisconsin</option> <option value="/states/WY/intro.htm">Wyoming</option> </select> </form> </div> <div id="watch" class="fluid"> <div class="fluid watch_text"><span class="fa fa-video-camera"></span>  <a id="floorlink" target="_blank"><span id="contentdata"></span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main-header"> <div class="row"> <div id="logo"> <a href="/index.htm"><img src="/resources/images/senate_logo.png" alt="United States Senate Logo" border="0"/></a> </div> <div id="search-elements" class="fluid "> <form name="search" id="search" action="/general/search/search_central_solr-js.htm" method="GET"> <label for="search"><span class="fa fa-search" onClick="document.getElementById('search').submit();"></span></label> <input type="text" name="q" value="Search" id="search3" onfocus="this.value=''" />   </form>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="nav"> <div id="nav-head-bg"></div> <div class="row"> <nav id="main-nav" class="fluid "> <label for="drop" class="toggle">MENU<span class="fa fa-bars"></span></label><input type="checkbox" id="drop"> <ul class="menu"> <li class="senatorsmenu"> <label for="drop-1" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"></label><a href="/senators/index.htm"> <div>SENATORS</div> </a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-1"/> <ul class="senatorsmenusub"> <li><a href="/senators/senators-contact.htm">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/leadership.htm">Leadership</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/former_senators.htm">Former Senators</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/qualifications_termsofservice.htm">Qualifications & Terms of Service</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/facts_milestones.htm">Facts & Milestones</a></li> <li><a href="/states/statesmap.htm">States</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="committeesmenu"> <label for="drop-2" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"></label><a href="/committees/committees_home.htm"> <div>COMMITTEES</div> </a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-2"/> <ul class="committeesmenusub"> <li><a href="/committees/membership_assignments.htm">Membership & Assignments </a></li> <li><a href="/committees/hearings_meetings.htm">Hearings & Meetings</a></li> <li><a href="/committees/history.htm">History</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="legislationmenu"> <label for="drop-3" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"></label><a href="/legislative/legislative_home.htm"> <div>LEGISLATION & RECORDS</div> </a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-3"/> <ul class="legislationmenusub"> <li><a href="/legislative/bills_acts_laws.htm">Bills, Acts, & Laws</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/nominations_new.htm">Nominations</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/treaties_new.htm">Treaties</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/votes_new.htm">Votes</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/floor_activity_pail.htm">Floor Proceedings</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/rules_procedure.htm">Rules & Procedure</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/landmark_legislation.htm">Landmark Legislation</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/sessions_of_congress.htm">Sessions of Congress</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/senate-archives/information-about-senate-archives.htm">Senate Archives</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/lobbyingdisc.htm#lobbyingdisc=lda">Public Disclosure</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="artartifactsmenu"> <label for="drop-4" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"></label><a href="/art-artifacts/index.htm"> <div>ART & ARTIFACTS</div> </a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-4"/> <ul class="artartifactsmenusub"> <li><a href="/general/search/search-art-artifacts-solr-js.htm">Collection Search</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/fine-art-landing-page.htm">Fine Art</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/decorative-art-landing-page.htm">Decorative Art</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/historical-images-landing-page.htm">Historical Images</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/historical-artifacts-landing-page.htm">Historical Artifacts</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/thematic-collections-landing-page.htm">Thematic Collections</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="aboutmenu"> <label for="drop-5" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"></label><a href="/about/index.htm" class="selected"> <div>ABOUT THE SENATE</div> </a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-5"/> <ul class="aboutmenusub"> <li> <label for="drop-44" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"> </label> <a class="drop-link" href="/about/officers-staff.htm">Officers & Staff</a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-44"/> <ul class="tertiary-menu"> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/vice-president.htm">Vice President</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/president-pro-tempore.htm">President Pro Tempore</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate.htm">Secretary of the Senate</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/sergeant-at-arms.htm">Sergeant at Arms</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/party-secretaries.htm">Party Secretaries</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/chaplain.htm">Chaplain</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/committee-office-staff.htm">Committee & Office Staff</a></li> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff/pages.htm">Pages</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <label for="drop-45" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"> </label> <a class="drop-link" href="/about/powers-procedures.htm">Powers & Procedures</a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-45"/> <ul class="tertiary-menu"> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/censure.htm">Censure</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/declarations-of-war.htm">Declarations of War</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/expulsion.htm">Expulsion</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/filibusters-cloture.htm">Filibuster & Cloture</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/impeachment.htm">Impeachment</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/investigations.htm">Investigations</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/nominations.htm">Nominations</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/rules.htm">Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/treaties.htm">Treaties</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures/voting.htm">Voting</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <label for="drop-46" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"> </label> <a class="drop-link" href="/about/origins-foundations.htm">Origins & Foundations</a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-46"/> <ul class="tertiary-menu"> <li><a href="/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution.htm">The Senate & the Constitution</a></li> <li><a href="/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators.htm">Electing & Appointing Senators</a></li> <li><a href="/about/origins-foundations/committee-system.htm">Committee System</a></li> <li><a href="/about/origins-foundations/idea-of-the-senate.htm">Idea of the Senate</a></li> <li><a href="/about/origins-foundations/parties-leadership.htm">Parties & Leadership</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a class="drop-link" href="/about/traditions-symbols.htm">Traditions & Symbols</a></li> <li> <label for="drop-47" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"> </label> <a class="drop-link" href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces.htm">Historic Buildings & Spaces</a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-47"/> <ul class="tertiary-menu"> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/capitol.htm">The Capitol</a></li> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/senate-chamber.htm">Senate Chamber</a></li> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/historic-rooms.htm">Historic Rooms</a></li> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/office-buildings.htm">Senate Office Buildings</a></li> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/meeting-places.htm">Congressional Meeting Places</a></li> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/past-chambers.htm">Past Senate Chambers</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a class="drop-link" href="/history/oralhistory.htm">Oral History Project</a></li> <li> <label for="drop-48" class="plus-minus mobile-plus"> </label> <a class="drop-link" href="/history/essays.htm">Historical Highlights</a> <input type="checkbox" id="drop-48"/> <ul class="tertiary-menu"> <li><a href="/history/1787.htm">1787-1800</a></li> <li><a href="/history/1801.htm">1801-1850</a></li> <li><a href="/history/1851.htm">1851-1877</a></li> <li><a href="/history/1878.htm">1878-1920</a></li> <li><a href="/history/1921.htm">1921-1940</a></li> <li><a href="/history/1941.htm">1941-1963</a></li> <li><a href="/history/1964.htm">1964-present</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a class="drop-link" href="/artandhistory/senate-stories/menu.htm">Senate Stories Blog</a></li> <li> <li><a class="drop-link" href="/about/research-tools.htm">Research Tools</a></li> <li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <div id="watch_mobile" class="fluid watch_text"><span class="fa fa-video-camera"></span>  <a id="floorlink_mobile" target="_blank"><span id="contentdata_mobile"></span></a></div> <main class="gridContainer clearfix"> <div id="secondary_col2" class="fluid"> <section class="fluid " id="about_header"> <h1>About Declarations of War by Congress</h1> <div id="h1_action_icons" class="fluid"><a href="javascript:if(window.print)window.print()"><i class="fa fa-print"></i></a>  </div> <hr class="fluid"> </section>  <span tabindex="-1" id="skip"></span> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/responsive.dataTables.min.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/jquery-1.12.4.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/jquery-3.3.1.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/jquery.dataTables.min.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/dataTables.buttons.min.js" language="javascript"></script> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/jquery.dataTables.min.css"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/resources/styles/buttons.dataTables.min.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/pdfmake.min.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/vfs_fonts.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/buttons.html5.min.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/scripts/dataTables.responsive.min.js" language="javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { var table = $('.filter_SortableData_table').DataTable( { responsive: true, "order":[[1, "asc" ]], "columnDefs": [{"orderable": false, "targets": [0, 2, 3]}], "pageLength":11, dom: 'Bfrtip', buttons: [ {extend: 'pdfHtml5', orientation: 'landscape', pageSize: 'LEGAL'} ], "language" : { "lengthMenu": "Show _MENU_", "info": "Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ Entries", "infoFiltered": "(filtered from _MAX_ total)", } } ); $('.table-filter').on('change', function () { table.columns(0).search( this.value ).draw(); } ); } ); </script><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> function showHide(shID) { if (document.getElementById(shID)) { if (document.getElementById(shID+'-show').style.display != 'none') { document.getElementById(shID+'-show').style.display = 'none'; document.getElementById(shID+'-hide').style.display = 'inline'; document.getElementById(shID).style.display = 'block'; } else { document.getElementById(shID+'-show').style.display = 'inline'; document.getElementById(shID+'-hide').style.display = 'none'; document.getElementById(shID).style.display = 'none'; } } } </script> <style> #SortableData_table tfoot { display: table-row-group; } #SortableData_table thead { display: table-row-group; } #SortableData_table_filter_container { background-color: #fff; height: 23px; width: 200px; border: none; border-radius: 2px; margin-bottom: 11px; float: left; padding: 0; } @media only screen and (min-width: 970px) { .mobile-show {display: none; !important; }} #mobile_filter_select { width:100%; } #SortableData_table_filter_container { height: 23px; width: 40%; border:2px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-right: 5px; float:left; } #SortableData_table_filter select.filter { background:transparent; width:auto; border:none; padding-left:0px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size:.85em; font-weight:400; color:#666; letter-spacing: 0px; } #SortableData_table_header1 th { font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; background-color: #523044; color:#fff; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: 400; padding: 8px 0px 8px 0px; margin-left: 0; text-align: left; height: 160px; padding-left: 30px; } .more { display: none; /* border-top: 1px solid #666; border-bottom: 1px solid #666; */ } .more { display: none; /* border-top: 1px solid #666; border-bottom: 1px solid #666; */ } a.itemLink { text-decoration: none; color: #8c1414; } a.itemLink:hover { text-decoration: underline; } a.showLink, a.hideLink { text-decoration: none; color: #8c1414; padding-left: 3px; background: transparent url('down.gif') no-repeat left; } a.hideLink { background: transparent url('up.gif') no-repeat left; } a.showLink:hover, a.hideLink:hover { border-bottom: 1px dotted #5B85C9; } </style> <div style="float:left; padding-right:4px; padding-bottom:20px"> <a target="_blank" href="/about/images/documents/war-of-1812-senate-amendments.htm"><img src="/about/resources/graphics/cropped-150/war-of-1812-senate-amendments.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="contenttext"> <introduction> <P>The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. Congress approved its last formal declaration of war during World War II. Since that time it has agreed to resolutions authorizing the use of military force and continues to shape U.S. military policy through appropriations and oversight.</P> </introduction> </div> <table width="100%" id="SortableData_table" class="display compact filter_SortableData_table" cellspacing="0"> <tfoot class="SortableData_table_header1"> <tr> <th style="border:0;" colspan="4"></th> </tr> </tfoot> <thead class="SortableData_table_header2"> <tr align="left"> <th align="left" style="width:25%">Country</th><th align="left" style="width:25%">Date</th><th align="left" style="width:25%">Senate Vote</th><th align="left" style="width:25%">Effective Date</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/war-of-1812-senate-amendments.htm">Great Britain</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1812</span>Jun 17, 1812</td><td>19-13</td><td>Jun 18, 1812</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/hr145-mexican-american-war.htm">Mexico</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1846</span>May 12, 1846</td><td>40-2</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/hr10086-spanish-american-war.htm">Spain</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1898</span>Apr 25, 1898</td><td>UC</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/sjres1-wwi-germany.htm">Germany</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1917</span>Apr 4, 1917</td><td>82-6</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/hjres169-wwi-austria-hungary.htm">Austria-Hungary</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1917</span>Dec 7, 1917</td><td>74-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/sjres116-wwii-japan.htm">Japan</a></td><td><span style="display:none">19411208</span>Dec 8, 1941</td><td>82-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/sjres119-wwii-germany.htm">Germany</a></td><td><span style="display:none">19411211</span>Dec 11, 1941</td><td>88-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/sjres120-wwii-italy.htm">Italy</a></td><td><span style="display:none">19411211</span>Dec 11, 1941</td><td>90-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/hjres319-wwii-bulgaria.htm">Bulgaria</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1942</span>Jun 4, 1942</td><td>73-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/hjres320-wwii-hungary.htm">Hungary</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1942</span>Jun 4, 1942</td><td>73-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/about/images/documents/hjres321-wwii-rumania.htm">Rumania</a></td><td><span style="display:none">1942</span>Jun 4, 1942</td><td>73-0</td><td>—</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <footer> <p>Return to <a href="/about/powers-procedures.htm">Powers and Procedures</a> </p> </footer>  </div> <div id="secondary_col1" class="fluid"> <!DOCTYPE noindex PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <noindex> <div class="fluid" id="about"> <ul> <li class="accordion"> <a href="/about/officers-staff.htm">Officers & Staff</a> </li> <li class="panel"> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/vice-president.htm">Vice President</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/president-pro-tempore.htm">President Pro Tempore</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate.htm">Secretary of the Senate</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/sergeant-at-arms.htm">Sergeant at Arms</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/party-secretaries.htm">Party Secretaries</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/chaplain.htm">Chaplain</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/committee-office-staff.htm">Committee & Office Staff</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/officers-staff/pages.htm">Pages</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="accordion active"> <a class="active" href="/about/powers-procedures.htm">Powers & Procedures</a> </li> <li class="panel show"> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/censure.htm">Censure</a> </li> <li> <a class="active" href="/about/powers-procedures/declarations-of-war.htm">Declarations of War</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/expulsion.htm">Expulsion</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/filibusters-cloture.htm">Filibuster & Cloture</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/impeachment.htm">Impeachment</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/investigations.htm">Investigations</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/nominations.htm">Nominations</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/rules.htm">Rules</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/treaties.htm">Treaties</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/powers-procedures/voting.htm">Voting</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="accordion"> <a href="/about/origins-foundations.htm">Origins & Foundations</a> </li> <li class="panel"> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution.htm">The Senate & the Constitution</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators.htm">Electing & Appointing Senators</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/origins-foundations/committee-system.htm">Committee System</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/origins-foundations/idea-of-the-senate.htm">Idea of the Senate</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/origins-foundations/parties-leadership.htm">Parties & Leadership</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="accordion-nochild"> <a href="/about/traditions-symbols.htm">Traditions & Symbols</a> </li> <li class="accordion"> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces.htm">Historic Buildings & Spaces</a> </li> <li class="panel"> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/capitol.htm">The Capitol</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/senate-chamber.htm">Senate Chamber</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/historic-rooms.htm">Historic Rooms</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/office-buildings.htm">Senate Office Buildings</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/meeting-places.htm">Congressional Meeting Places</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces/past-chambers.htm">Past Senate Chambers</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="accordion-nochild"> <a href="/history/oralhistory.htm">Oral History Project</a> </li> <li class="accordion"> <a href="/history/essays.htm">Historical Highlights</a> </li> <li class="panel"> <ul> <li> <a href="/history/1787.htm">1787-1800</a> </li> <li> <a href="/history/1801.htm">1801-1850</a> </li> <li> <a href="/history/1851.htm">1851-1877</a> </li> <li> <a href="/history/1878.htm">1878-1920</a> </li> <li> <a href="/history/1921.htm">1921-1940</a> </li> <li> <a href="/history/1941.htm">1941-1963</a> </li> <li> <a href="/history/1964.htm">1964-present</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="accordion-nochild"> <a href="/artandhistory/senate-stories/menu.htm">Senate Stories Blog</a> </li> <li class="accordion-nochild"> <a href="/about/research-tools.htm">Research Tools</a> </li> </ul> </div> </noindex>  <aside class="fluid sidebar_link_container"> <div class="fluid content_column_container"> <h3>Senate Historical Office </h3> <span style="padding-top:5px" class="teasertext"> <P> Information provided by the <A href="/history/senate-historical-office.htm">Senate Historical Office</A>. </P> <P> Questions about Senate History?<br> <A href="mailto:historian@sec.senate.gov">Email a Senate historian</A>.<br> </P> </span> </div> </aside> <br>  </div> <div id="social_background_white" class="fluid "> <div id="logo_social_footer_center" class="fluid "> <div id="footer_logo" class="fluid "><a href="/index.htm"><img src="/resources/images/senate_logo_footer.png" alt="Senate Logo"/></a></div> </div> </div> </main> <footer id="footer" class="fluid gridContainer clearfix"> <div id="footer_menu_center"> <div id="footer_menu_senators" > <h3><a href="/senators/contact/">SENATORS</a></h3> <ul class="fluid fluidList footer_links"> <li><a href="/senators/senators-contact.htm">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/leadership.htm">Leadership & Officers</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/former_senators.htm">Former Senators</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/qualifications_termsofservice.htm">Qualifications & Terms of Service</a></li> <li><a href="/senators/facts_milestones.htm">Facts & Milestones</a></li> <li><a href="/states/statesmap.htm">States</a></li> </ul> <div id="footer_menu_committees" > <h3 style="padding-top: 75px;"><a href="/committees/committees_home.htm">COMMITTEES</a></h3> <ul class="fluid fluidList footer_links"> <li><a href="/committees/membership_assignments.htm">Membership & Assignments</a></li> <li><a href="/committees/hearings_meetings.htm">Hearings & Meetings</a></li> <li><a href="/committees/history.htm">History</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div id="footer_menu_legislation" > <h3><a href="/legislative/legislative_home.htm">LEGISLATION & <br> RECORDS</a></h3> <ul class="fluid fluidList footer_links"> <li><a href="/legislative/bills_acts_laws.htm">Bills, Acts, & Laws</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/nominations_new.htm">Nominations</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/treaties_new.htm">Treaties</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/votes_new.htm">Votes</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/floor_activity_pail.htm">Floor Proceedings</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/rules_procedure.htm">Rules & Procedure</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/landmark_legislation.htm">Landmark Legislation</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/sessions_of_congress.htm">Sessions of Congress</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/senate-archives/information-about-senate-archives.htm">Senate Archives</a></li> <li><a href="/legislative/lobbyingdisc.htm#lobbyingdisc=lda">Public Disclosure</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="footer_menu_artartifacts" > <h3><a href="/art-artifacts/index.htm">ART & ARTIFACTS</a></h3> <ul class="fluid fluidList footer_links"> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/fine-art-landing-page.htm">Fine Art</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/decorative-art-landing-page.htm">Decorative Art</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/historical-images-landing-page.htm">Historical Images</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/historical-artifacts-landing-page.htm">Historical Artifacts</a></li> <li><a href="/art-artifacts/thematic-collections-landing-page.htm">Thematic Collections</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="footer_menu_about" > <h3><a href="/about/index.htm">ABOUT THE SENATE</a></h3> <ul class="fluid fluidList footer_links"> <li><a href="/about/officers-staff.htm">Officers & Staff</a></li> <li><a href="/about/powers-procedures.htm">Powers & Procedures</a></li> <li><a href="/about/origins-foundations.htm">Origins & Foundations</a></li> <li><a href="/about/traditions-symbols.htm">Traditions & Symbols</a></li> <li><a href="/about/historic-buildings-spaces.htm">Historic Buildings & Spaces</a></li> <li><a href="/history/oralhistory.htm">Oral History Project</a></li> <li><a href="/history/essays.htm">Historical Highlights</a></li> <li><a href="/artandhistory/senate-stories/menu.htm">Senate Stories Blog</a></li> <li><a href="/about/research-tools.htm">Research Tools</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div id="footer_legal" class="fluid " > <p> <a href="/general/contacting.htm">Contact</a>   |   <a href="/general/content_responsibility.htm">Content Responsibility</a>   |   <a href="/usage/internetpolicy.htm">Usage Policy</a>   |   <a href="/general/privacy.htm">Privacy Policy</a>   |   <a href="/visiting/employment.htm">Employment & Internships</a>   |   <a href="/visiting/procurement.htm">Procurement</a>   |   <a href="/index.htm">www.senate.gov</a> </p> </div> </footer> <script src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/566dc2d26e4f/843d2f589d53/launch-01bbfeb2a9a5.min.js" async></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

U.S. Senate: About Declarations of War by Congress