Question

In what way do these two parts of the U.S. Constitution conflict? The president is the commander of the army and navy only when Congress decides he should be the commander. Congress directs the army and navy in times of war, but the president is also the commander of the army and navy. The president is the commander of the army and navy, but only Congress can declare war. The militia of each state can act independently from the Congress and president.

Option 1: The president is the supreme commander of the military forces
Option 2: The power to declare war is exclusive to Congress
Option 3: The militia can act independently in times of war
Option 4: Congress has authority over the president in military matters

Answer 1

The U.S. Constitution grants the president the role of commander in chief of the armed forces. However, it also assigns Congress several powers such as declaring war, funding the military, and setting military regulations. This division creates a system of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches regarding military authority.

Step-by-step explanation:

The parts of the U.S. Constitution brought up in the question refer to the distribution of military powers between Congress and the president. According to the Constitution, the president serves as the commander in chief of the United States armed forces. This civilian control over the military ensures that even the highest-ranking officers answer to an elected official. However, the Constitution also grants Congress various powers that check and balance the president's military authority. For instance, Congress holds the 'power of the purse,' meaning it can refuse to fund military actions, as seen in Section 8 Clause 12. It can also define and regulate the military as outlined in Section 8 Clauses 13 and 14. Conversely, only Congress has the authority to declare war, adding another layer of oversight.

While the Constitution provides that the president is the commander in chief and can federalize the National Guard during times of war or national emergency, it is essential to note that Congress can influence military policy through its legislative powers. Such interactions between the executive and legislative branches tend to generate a dynamic tension, which can be seen as part of the system of checks and balances designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power over the other.