As early as 1792, Congress declared that 'it shall be lawful for the President' to use national troops or call forth the militia whenever he deems such action necessary to protect the functioning of the government or the enforcement of its laws. Although state governments dealt with most episodes of domestic disorder-and still do-some of those episodes had a national dimension. With regard to domestic (and republican) tranquillity, it became apparent soon after 1789 that the deference of Article IV to states ' rights did not permit the national government fully to protect the peace of the United States. It provides that the national force be used to suppress domestic violence only on application of the state legislature or of the governor when the state legislature cannot be convened. Article IV, guaranteeing each state a republican form of government, somewhat qualifies that authority. Article II of the Constitution, adapting British practice, designates the President commander-in-chief both of the nation's armed forces and of the state militia when it is called into national service.

In every state, the command of the armed forces is the ultimate component of executive power.

Commander in chief definition