Unit+3+-+The+Constitution+and+the+Military

Task #1 - What does the Constitution say about the Military Your task for today is research what exactly the US Constitution says about the military. What branch is given power over the military and under what conditions? After you've done that, you will need to research laws passed which restrict or enhance each branch's military authority. (An example of this would be the War Powers Act passed toward the end of the Vietnam War, or the Selective Service Act passed during World War I.)

Develop a very thorough list as you will be using this as the basis for our future activities in which you will be looking at:

Chain of command in the military Current activities Presidential influence on military Special Operations Force (+ looking into their role during the Vietnam War) Service branches Military training Deployment Conspiracies

Task #2 - Chain of Command and the US Government Next, I want you to take a look at the chain of command in the US Military. (For this exercise, we'll only be looking at the US Army.) How are they organized? What is the chain of command? What are the constitutional requirements for this chain of command?

After you've done this, I want you to take a look at the relationship between the US Army and the Commander-in-Chief (and the US Congress as well). What is the relationship between these two groups? Who is primarily responsible for the decision-making, both long-term and on a day-to-day basis? How has this changed over time? (Use World War II and the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as examples.) How are conflicts resolved between the two groups if they exist? What other questions come to mind as you look at this relationship?