Commander in Chief

Commander in Chief
-Besides acting as Head of State and Chief Executive, the President also acts as the Commander in Chief of the US military.

-Only Congress can declare war, however it is up to the President to ask Congress for a formal declaration of war. This has only happened 5 times in American history: The War of 1812, The Mexican-American War, The Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.

-The War Powers Act of 1973 gave the President the power to commit American forces to combat for up to 60 days without the approval of Congress. After 60 days the President must request the consent of Congress to continue engaging in combat. Congress can revoke the President’s power to engage in combat after the first 60 days at any time as long as there is no formal declaration of war.

-As Commander in Chief the President holds perhaps the most dangerous and terrifying power in all of the government, the power to order the use of nuclear weapons.

-Besides holding the power to use the military in combat situations, the President also holds the power to order the military to perform other duties such as acting as security enforcement against terrorism, aiding in emergency situations that arise from natural disasters, and subduing domestic riots or uprisings.