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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 MilitaryU.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

• 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:– National security– Humanitarian actions– Multinational operations– Peace operations– Fighting non-state terrorists– Law enforcement support– Environmental protection

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Branches of Government

E X E C U TIV E L E G IS L A TIV E JU D IC IA L

C O N S TITU TIO N

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)

ChairmanVice ChairmanChief of Staff – ArmyChief of Naval OperationsChief of Staff – Air ForceCommandant of the Marine Corps

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Operational Chain of Command

C om b atan t C om m an d ers

S ec re ta ry o f D e fen se

P res id en t

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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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Secretary of DefenseDeputy Secretary of Defense

CENTCOM

SOCOM TRANSCOM STRATCOM

PACOM NORTHCOM SOUTHCOM EUCOM AFRICOM

President

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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 god-like figure in Japan.”

…Joseph R. Farrell

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