--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No power but Congress can declare war…" description: "\"No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may make such mili..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg" --- # No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the… ![“No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may make such military movements as must bring on war? ... [T]hese remarks originate purely in a desire to maintain the powers of government as they are established…” quote by Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg) > “No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may make such military movements as must bring on war? ... \[T\]hese remarks originate purely in a desire to maintain the powers of government as they are established by the Constitution between the different departments, and hope that, whether we have conquests or no conquests, war or no war, peace or no peace, we shall yet preserve, in its integrity and strength, the Constitution of the United States.” [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that presidential military actions can undermine congressional war‑declaration authority, threatening constitutional balance. **In simple terms:** Presidential war actions can weaken Congress’s war‑declaration power. Key Takeaway Guard constitutional checks on military power. Themes constitution war powers separation of powers government integrity Mood cautious reflective Type political legal When to use this quote - policy debates - military interventions - constitutional law - executive decisions Key Concepts checks and balances executive authority legislative oversight Questions to Reflect On - How should the Constitution adapt to modern warfare? - What mechanisms can reinforce congressional war‑declaration power? A Different Perspective Presidential authority often expands in crises, challenging the intended balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution of the united states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-of-the-united-states/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [No war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-war/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [No power but Congress can declare war, but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-but-what-is-the-value-of-this/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-construction-of-the-constitution-is-very-different-from-that-you/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-have-a-different-constitution-i-have-a-different-brain-i-have-a/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Clearly what differentiates the U.S. from other countries is the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution defines us as a people. Without the Constitution, we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/clearly-what-differentiates-the-u-s-from-other-countries-is-the-u-s/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [I'm different. I have a different constitution, I have a different brain, I have a different heart. I got tiger blood, man. Dying's for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-m-different-i-have-a-different-constitution-i-have-a-different/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [There was specific constitutional provision for emergency measures in the case that Abraham Lincoln faced - an insurrection - which no other president has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lee-miller/there-was-specific-constitutional-provision-for-emergency-measures-in/) [William Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lee-miller/) > [Nothing in the 14th Amendment or in any other constitutional provision suggests that the president may usurp legislative power to prevent a violation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/nothing-in-the-14th-amendment-or-in-any-other-constitutional/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The notion that Congress can change the meaning given a constitutional provision by the Court is subversive of the function of judicial review; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bork/the-notion-that-congress-can-change-the-meaning-given-a/) [Robert Bork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bork/) > [Reservation is a socio-political necessity. Hence, there is a constitutional provision for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/reservation-is-a-socio-political-necessity-hence-there-is-a/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [The people are the source of governmental power. Along with many religious people, Latter-day Saints affirm that God gave the power to the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-people-are-the-source-of-governmental-power-along-with-many/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [That the Powers of Government may be resumed by the People, whensoever it shall become necessary to their Happiness; that every Power, Jurisdiction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-the-powers-of-government-may-be-resumed-by-the-people-whensoever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The pretense that the workings of the mind, like the actions of the body, are subject to the control of laws, does not seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-pretense-that-the-workings-of-the-mind-like-the-actions-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legislative-powers-of-government-reach-actions-only-and-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as they are injurious to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legitimate-powers-of-government-extend-to-such-acts-only-as-they/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Great power often corrupts virtue; it invariably renders vice more malignant. . . . In proportion as the powers of government increase, both its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-of-caroline/great-power-often-corrupts-virtue-it-invariably-renders-vice-more/) John Taylor of Caroline ## More by Daniel Webster > [In the nature of things, those who have no property and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/in-the-nature-of-things-those-who-have-no-property-and-see-their/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/liberty-and-union-now-and-for-ever-one-and-inseparable/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we raise temples, they will crumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-we-work-on-marble-it-will-perish-if-we-work-on-brass-time-will/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [This is the Book. I have read the Bible through many times, and now make it a practice to read it through once every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/this-is-the-book-i-have-read-the-bible-through-many-times-and-now/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Faith puts God between us and our circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/faith-puts-god-between-us-and-our-circumstances/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Failure is more frequently from want of energy than want of capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/failure-is-more-frequently-from-want-of-energy-than-want-of-capital/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of religion, of special revelation from God; but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/the-bible-is-a-book-of-faith-and-a-book-of-doctrine-and-a-book-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from...the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/our-destruction-should-it-come-at-all-will-be-from-the-inattention-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [When the spotless ermine of the judicial robe fell on John Jay, it touched nothing less spotless than itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/when-the-spotless-ermine-of-the-judicial-robe-fell-on-john-jay-it/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If the Union was formed by accession of States then the Union may be dissolved by the secession of States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-the-union-was-formed-by-accession-of-states-then-the-union-may-be/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [A solemn and religious regard to spiritual and eternal things is an indispensable element of all true greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/a-solemn-and-religious-regard-to-spiritual-and-eternal-things-is-an/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Philosophic argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe, in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/philosophic-argument-especially-that-drawn-from-the-vastness-of-the/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [We are all agents of the same supreme power, the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/we-are-all-agents-of-the-same-supreme-power-the-people/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) [Explore all 170 Daniel Webster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may make such military movements as must bring on war? ... [T]hese remarks originate purely in a desire to maintain the powers of government as they are established by the Constitution between the different departments, and hope that, whether we have conquests or no conquests, war or no war, peace or no peace, we shall yet preserve, in its integrity and strength, the Constitution of the United States.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Webster" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-but-what-is-the-value-of-this-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-but-what-is-the-value-of-this-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/daniel-webster-2347_authority_no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-bu_1851853.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the…” — Daniel Webster", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Daniel Webster", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No power but Congress can declare...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-but-what-is-the-value-of-this-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/no-power-but-congress-can-declare-war-but-what-is-the-value-of-this-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```