What are the presidents responsibilities as commander-in-chief?
As commander-in-chief, the president exercises ultimate authority over the nation’s armed forces during times of peace and war. The president is also responsible for maintaining America’s military preparedness. Only Congress can declare war, but as commander-in-chief, the president can deploy troops at home and abroad as he deems necessary. Determining exactly when the president must obtain an authorization from Congress for the use of troops is controversial. In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Act in an attempt to clarify the line between executive and legislative war powers.
