Who serves as the Commander-in-chief of the military?

The President serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the military, a role defined by the U.S. Constitution in Article II, Section 2. This authority allows the President to oversee and control the armed forces, making crucial decisions regarding military strategy and the deployment of troops. The role emphasizes the President's position as the ultimate authority in military matters, ensuring civilian oversight of the military to maintain democratic governance.

While the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have important roles in the national defense and military operations, they do not have the constitutional authority to serve as Commander-in-Chief. The Vice President supports the President and may assume the role of acting Commander-in-Chief under specific circumstances, but they do not inherently hold that title. The Secretary of Defense manages the Department of Defense and reports to the President but does not directly command the military. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the principal military advisor to the President and the Secretary of Defense but does not possess command authority over the military forces.