In 2005 it was revealed that president george w. bush interpreted his constitutional powers as commander-in-chief to

He interpreted his constitutional powers as commander in chief to POWER. Article 2, section ll of the US constitution, which contain the 'commander in chief clause' states that the president shall be the commander in chief of army and navy of the United States. President Bush interpreted this clause to mean that he has power to declare war. Under the US constitution, it is only the congress that has power to declare war.