The Military in a Democracy:
A U.S. Perspective
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“….Clear and unchallenged civilian
responsibility…”
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Why Civilian Control in U.S.?
• Colonial immigrants victims of military
oppression in native countries
• French and Indian/Seven Years War
• American Revolution
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Role of the Military
U.S. Constitution
– form a more perfect union
– establish justice
– insure domestic tranquility
–provide for
common defense
– promote general welfare
– secure the blessings of liberty
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1781-1917
• Militia Act of 1792
• The “Age of Free Security”- 1815-1917
– few external threats
– no reason to challenge civilian control
• The Civil War 1861-1865
– President Lincoln
– “citizen-soldier” concept in action
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1918 - 1949
• 1945 - 1992 every U.S. President had
served in the armed forces
• Military conscription only in major wars
• Post-WWII defense strategy shifted
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The Cold War
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New policy of “containment”
No military demobilization after WWII
U.S. maintained large standing forces
Reserve system was implemented
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New Military Roles
• Military enters into law enforcement arena in
1980’s in support role
• 1986 drug trafficking designated a national
security threat
• Military begins support for counter-drug law
enforcement:
– equipment
– facilities
– training
– intelligence
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Today’s Military
• Composed of a volunteer force
• Roles include:
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National security
Humanitarian actions
Multinational operations
Peace operations
Fighting non-state terrorists
Law enforcement support
Environmental protection
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Branches of Government
CONSTITUTION
EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE
JUDICIAL
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Executive Function
• President - Commander in Chief
– National Command Authority
– National Security Council (NSC)
• Secretary of Defense
– Joint Chiefs of Staff
– Departments = Administration
– Combatant Commanders = Operations
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President = an Elected Civilian
• Appoints officers and Secretary of Defense
• Submits budget
• Balances Foreign Policy and use of military
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Congress
~ Senate and House of Representatives ~
• to raise and support armies
• to provide and maintain a navy
• to provide for state militias when
called into federal service
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Legislative Function
• War Powers
• Regulation of military
• Promotions
• Budget
• Advise and Consent
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War Powers Resolution
• requires consultation with Congress by
President
• requires report by the President on
specified deployments
• places a 60-90 day limit on deployments
absent express Congressional consent
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Judicial Functions
• Interpretation of the Law
• Criminal Appeals
• Civil Liability
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Judicial Branch and the Military
• Supreme Court may hear appeals from
Court of Military Appeals
• Suits may be brought against the U.S.
government after exhausting
administrative remedies
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Defense Organization
• President
– Commander in Chief of Armed Forces
• National Security Council
– President
– Vice President
– Secretary of State
– Secretary of Defense
+ others
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Department of Defense
• Headed by Secretary of Defense
– cabinet level status
– directly controls the three service Secretaries
• A true civilian
– must not have served in military during the
past ten years
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Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Chief of Staff – Army
Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Staff – Air Force
Commandant of the Marine Corps
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Operational Chain of
Command
President
Secretary of Defense
Combatant Commanders
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Departmental Roles
• OSD tasks military departments
• Military Departments train and equip
forces
• Chairman JCS plans and coordinates
deployments and operations
• Unified Combatant Commands conduct
the operations
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Unified Combatant Commands
• The operational command of the U.S.
forces
• Forces from 2 or more services
• Broad and continuing missions
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President
Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
CENTCOM
PACOM
SOCOM
NORTHCOM SOUTHCOM
EUCOM
TRANSCOM
STRATCOM
AFRICOM
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Coast Guard
• Under the Dept. of
Homeland Security
• Dept. of Defense
in times of war
• Primary role as a law enforcement agency
• Also a military service
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Conclusion
“…a Japanese politician was heard to remark that
[General MacArthur’s] firing taught the Japanese
more about democracy than anything else America
had said or done because no Japanese citizen ever
thought anyone could fire Douglas MacArthur, a godlike figure in Japan.”
…Joseph R. Farrell
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