Who serves as the Commander in Chief of the military?

The position of Commander in Chief of the military is held by the President of the United States. This authority is established in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which explicitly designates the President as the leader of the nation's armed forces. This role encompasses the responsibility for military decisions, operations, and the overall direction of the military branches. The President's role as Commander in Chief reflects a significant aspect of civilian control over the military, ensuring that military power is subordinate to elected leadership.

The other options represent important roles within the U.S. government but do not carry the authority of Commander in Chief. The Vice President supports the President but does not have independent military command. The Secretary of Defense, although a key military advisor and responsible for the Department of Defense, operates under the authority of the President. The Speaker of the House leads the legislative branch but does not have any command authority over military forces. This distinction reinforces the democratic principle that military power is held accountable to elected officials.