And they recognized a reality in the world at the time. Decisions about war were made by the executive, king, monarch, emperor, czar, pope. It was made by the executive. The framers of the Constitution in 1787 were dealing with leadership that included the first president of the United States, George Washington, the greatest general that's ever been president of the United States. They revered George Washington, but when they had to make a decision about who declared war, they said, even George Washington, even George Washington is not smart enough to carry that sole decision on his shoulders to make war. (05:25–05:38)
CLAIM
Asserts that the framers of the Constitution intended for Congress, not the President, to have the power to declare war.
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