AhaBulbStuff Everyone Should Know
AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/civics-commander-in-chief

Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

The President.

Start playing free

  1. The President ✔
  2. The Secretary of Defense
  3. The Speaker of the House

Why: The Constitution makes the President the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The Secretary of Defense runs the department but reports to the President.

Huh, didn't know that: Putting an elected civilian at the top keeps the military under civilian control.

The dad joke
Why did the general bring a pencil to the briefing? To draw up the plans.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: The President. The Constitution makes the President the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The Secretary of Defense runs the department but reports to the President.

  1. USCIS M-1778, 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version) www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/2025-Civics-Test-128-Questions-and-Answers.pdf
    42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? The President (of the United States)
    Checked 2026-10-07.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Citizenship & CivicsThe President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?Citizenship & CivicsThe President of the United States is elected for how many years?Citizenship & CivicsThe President can serve only two terms. Why?

That's stuff everyone should know.