Civilian Control of the Military

1a. There are three main provisions in the constitution that provide for efficient civilian control over the military. Federalism – The division of important powers between the state governments and the central government. Separation of powers – The division of the responsibilities of the central government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Checks and balances – The allocation of power among the different branches of the government such that each is protected against the others—and the people against all—by requiring the approval by one branch of certain decisions made by others.




1) Separation of powers/checks and balances 2) bicameral legislature 3)state responsibilities




2.  Describe the criteria that govern civil-military relations in democratic states, according to Louis Smith







2a.  Civilian leadership of the executive branch of the government. The national leadership is accountable to a popular majority through frequent and regular elections. Also, the chief executive may be removed by the exercise of well-established constitutional processes. For example, the Congress of the may discharge presidents from office, if they commit “high crimes and misdemeanors.”







Civilian leadership of the professional military services and departments. The professional military heads of the army, the navy and the air force are subordinate to civilian departmental heads. The chief executive appoints them, and the national legislature confirms them. In other words, the civilian executive stands at the head of the military chain of command, supported by civilian subordinates who oversee the day-to-day activities of the armed forces. The President of the , for example appoints the civilian secretary of defense, who presides over the Department of Defense, which incorporates the four military services.