Who has the power to declare war, print money and regulate trade?

• A. Senate
• B. Congress
• C. President
• D. Supreme Court

Answer: (B)

These three powers—declaring war, coining money, and regulating trade—are granted to Congress by the Constitution. The legislative branch is the one that writes and authorizes the major actions that shape national policy, and its enumerated powers include declaring war, coining money and regulating its value, and regulating commerce.

Declaring war is a formal act that requires congressional authorization. The President can set military action in motion and lead the armed forces, but a formal declaration of war is a legislative decision that comes from Congress. Coining money and regulating its value is explicitly assigned to Congress; while federal agencies actually print and mint currency, the constitutional authority rests with Congress. Regulating trade—both between states and with other nations—also falls under Congress’s powers, even though the President can negotiate treaties and enforce trade laws within that framework.

The President and the Supreme Court don’t hold these three powers in the same way. The President is the Commander in Chief and negotiates with other nations, but he does not unilaterally declare war or unilaterally coin money. The Supreme Court interprets laws, not declare war or set monetary policy. So Congress is the branch that holds these fundamental powers.