The president is known as the commander-in-chief. What does that mean?
The term "commander-in-chief" refers to the constitutional role and authority of the president of a nation to be the highest-ranking officer in charge of the armed forces. In the context of the United States, it refers to the president's role as the head of the U.S. military forces across all branches including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
As commander-in-chief, the president has the power to make crucial military decisions, give orders, deploy troops, and determine military strategies. However, the president is also subject to the oversight of Congress, which has the authority to declare war and control military funding. Additionally, the commander-in-chief role entails making national security and defense policy as well as ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of the armed forces in protecting the country.