- The main reason that the president is in charge of the army is to put the control in civilian hands and to show that the army is not superior to civil power
- The president does more than pin medals on soldiers, he makes important military decisions in times of war and peace
- Some examples of this is when Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb and when Clinton sent in peace troops to Kosovo in Serbia
- As a check and balance the president must win congressional approval before committing troops for any lengthy period of time
- During wartime emergencies the president is able to 1)control all industrial efforts related to war 2)place ceilings on wages and prices 3)regulate or ration food, clothing, and manufactured items 4)suspend some personal freedoms