The framers put it right there in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution: Congress is the branch of government that has the power to declare war, but the situation has gotten a bit more complicated since the founding. There hasn’t been a formal war declaration from Congress since World War II, and after that most military engagements have been carried out by the president with only limited Congressional oversight. 

But now with tensions between the US and Iran escalating some members of Congress are beginning to push back, including a few representing districts here in the Bay Area.

On this edition of KCBS In Depth we take a look at how the way America declares war has changed over its long history and how it might be changing right now.

Guests: 

• Connor O’Brien, senior defense reporter with Politico
• Chris Edelson, professor of government at American University’s School of Public Affairs

Host: KCBS Radio reporter Keith Menconi