Quote:A hopefully simple question: Is the president allowed to be an active member of the armed forces?

 

I ask because in my country when our king was crowned he had to resign from all his military posts because the civilian government regulates the military and the king is head of the government. If he remained in the military that would mean the military would be effectively be regulated by the military and you can see why that's not a desirable situation.

 

I know the POTUS is the commander-in-chief but his power is also limited by design by having Congress hold quite a bit of control over the military. And it would seem to me that allowing the POTUS to be an active member of the military would create a similar undesirable situation as it would with our king.

 

 

A member on active duty may hold and exercise the functions of a civil office under paragraph 4.4. when assigned or detailed (while on active duty) to such office to perform such functions, provided the assignment or detail does not interfere with military duties.  Being a president would do that.


Basically to sum up the question, No.  The president would have to resign from the military (assuming he was an officer), in order to be President.

 

He is essentailly the highest rank in the military as commander-in-chief so his previous rank wouldnt suffice and would be in conflict with his new title.  In the USA the president is the head of the executive branch and his primary duty is to rule over the military to protect its citizens (in my opinion).  Our congress makes the laws, and our supreme court rules upon them.  A republic goverment like rome but voted for by the people "Democratic" so Democratic Republic (at least its supposed to be that) just like rome ... its hard to keep congress as the main part of being in charge...

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