A declaration is broadly defined as a formal, explicit, public announcement of a decision. According to this definition then, a declaration of war is a formal, explicit, public announcement of a decision to go to war. Although certainly true, such a definition is inadequate. More fully, a declaration of war is a performative speech act, as defined by philosopher John Austin. As such, three roles or functions are required to enact a declaration of war. In temporal sequence, these are as follows:

• 1.
  A decision to go or not to go to war must be made, preferably by a constitutionally recognized, legitimate declarer of war.
• 2.
  A formal and explicit text must be drafted that explains and justifies the decision, preferably by a constitutionally recognized, legitimate declarer of war.
• 3.
  The ...