ABSTRACT
Civilians control the military in the United States. But which civilians make the important decisions? The Constitution divides power among civilian leaders, notably creating checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches. Congress has the power to raise armies and navies and to declare war. The president has always been the commander in chief of federal forces and of the state militias when they are called to federal service. But the president cannot manage the day-to-day affairs of national security by himself, and, over time, decision makers have tried to improve the American national security policymaking process by adjusting the organization of the executive branch. Meanwhile, the structure of the military has changed, too, in response to new technologies, strategic situations, and political alignments. Sometimes the military services (the Army, Air Force, and the Navy, which includes the Marine Corps) have had more independence, while at other times a cross-service perspective has dominated. Through all of the changes, though, the principal idea has been constant, seeking to gain the benefits of deliberation and a diversity of viewpoints without sacrificing the advantages of unified military command when it is needed in foreign affairs.
