The United States has officially declared war 11 times in the nation’s history, the first time for the War of 1812 and most recently for World War II. According to the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the exclusive authority to declare war, but Congress has always exercised that power in response to a formal request from the president.

Lawmakers, rather than exert their own authority, are set to beat back efforts in the Senate Wednesday and the House on Thursday to require a debate and vote to authorize Trump’s war.

At the top of the pecking order of American law is the U.S. Constitution. Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 provides that Constitution is silent as to how, when or

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday (local time) that the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the strikes led by the United States and Israel is “a declaration of war against Muslims”.

A declaration would signal political will for peace and reduce tension on the peninsula, but it may not change anything because of military realities.

Iran on Sunday vowed revenge after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli strikes, with President Masoud Pezeshkian describing the attack as a “declaration of war against Muslims” and calling for retaliation against the perpetrators.

Who has the power to declare war? As leaders use the word "war" in reference to Iran, here's what the Constitution says about Congress, the president and military authority.

With senior US officials estimating that a war with Iran is now expected to last weeks, not days, and Iran’s declaration of war on Israel and the US, the chances of the Strait of Hormuz being closed for an extended period are rapidly increasing,