View source for Commander-in-chief

{{Short description|Supreme commanding authority of a military}}
{{Redirect|CINC|other uses|CINC (disambiguation)|and|Commander in Chief (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Chain of Command}}
{{Military units}}

A '''commander-in-chief''' or '''supreme commander''' ('''supreme commander-in-chief''') is the person who exercises supreme [[command and control]] over an [[military|armed force]] or a [[military branch]]. As a technical term, it refers to military competencies that reside in a country's executive leadership, a [[head of state]], [[head of government]], or other designated [[government official]].

While often used interchangeably, the title of [[Supreme Commander–in–Chief]] is technically different, since the two titles can be in use simultaneously. For example, in the case of the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]], the ''supreme commander-in-chief'' is the [[president of Ukraine]], while the ''commander-in-chief'' is its [[Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine|professional head]].

==Definition==
The formal role and title of a ruler commanding the armed forces derives from ''[[Imperator]]'' of the [[Roman Kingdom]], [[Roman Republic]] and [[Roman Empire]], who possessed ''imperium'' (command and other regal) powers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Auctor.html|title=LacusCurtius • Roman Law — Auctor (Smith's Dictionary, 1875)|website=Penelope.uchicago.edu|access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref>

In English use, the term was first used during the [[English Civil War]].<ref>For example: "Ordered, That this House joins and agrees with the House of Commons in this Vote; and that the Lord Admiral is hereby desired, from both Houses of Parliament, that the Commander in Chief of this Summer's Fleet under his Lordship, may be the Earl of Warwicke.", [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol4/pp645-646#h3-0007 House of Lords Journal 15 March 1642]</ref> A nation's [[head of state]] (monarchical or republican) usually holds the position of commander-in-chief, even if effective executive power is held by a separate [[head of government]]. In a [[parliamentary system]], the [[executive branch]] is ultimately dependent upon the will of the [[legislature]]; although the legislature does not issue orders directly to the armed forces and therefore does not control the military in any operational sense. [[Governor-general|Governors-general]] and colonial governors are also often appointed commander-in-chief of the military forces within their territory.

A commander in chief is sometimes referred to as ''supreme commander'', which is sometimes used as a specific term. The term is also used for military officers who hold such power and authority, not always through dictatorship, and as a subordinate (usually) to a head of state (see [[Generalissimo]]). The term is also used for officers who hold authority over an individual [[military branch]], [[special branch]] or within a [[theatre of operations]].<ref>Dupuy, Trevor N., Curt Johnson, and Grace P. Hayes. "Supreme Commander." Dictionary of Military Terms. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1986.</ref>

==Heads of state as commanders in chief==
This includes heads of states who:
* Are chief executives with the political mandate to undertake discretionary decision-making, including command of the armed forces.
* Mostly ceremonial heads of state (constitutional monarchs, viceroys and presidents in parliamentary republics) with residual substantive reserve powers over the armed forces, acting under normal circumstances on the constitutional advice of chief executives with the political mandate to undertake discretionary decision-making.

===Albania===
According to the [[Constitution of Albania]], the [[president of the Republic of Albania]] is the commander-in-chief of [[Albanian Armed Forces]].

===Argentina===
[[File:Menem comemora XV aniversario del bautismo de fuego de la FAA.jpg|thumb|left|Argentine president [[Carlos Menem]] presiding over an [[Argentine Air Force]] ceremony for the [[Falklands War]] in May 1997.]]
Under part II, chapter III, article 99, subsections 12, 13, 14 and 15, the [[Constitution of Argentina]] states that the [[president of the Argentine Nation]] is the "Commander-in-chief of [[Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic|all the armed forces of the Nation]]". It also states that the president is entitled to provide military posts in the granting of the jobs or grades of senior officers of the armed forces, and by itself on the battlefield; runs with its organization and distribution according to needs of the Nation and declares war and orders reprisals with the consent and approval of the [[Argentine National Congress]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.senado.gov.ar/deInteresEnglish | title = Constitution of the argentine nation | publisher = [[Argentine Senate]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022134856/http://www.senado.gov.ar/deInteresEnglish | archive-date = 22 October 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

The [[Ministry of Defense (Argentina)|Ministry of Defense]] is the government department that assists and serves the president in the management of the armed forces ([[Argentine Army|Army]], [[Argentine Navy|Navy]] and [[Argentine Air Force|Air Force]]).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mindef.gov.ar/institucional/misiones-y-funciones/ministerio-de-defensa.html | title = Ministerio de Defensa | access-date = 21 January 2014 | language = es | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130918161625/http://www.mindef.gov.ar/institucional/misiones-y-funciones/ministerio-de-defensa.html | archive-date = 18 September 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Australia===
[[File:Aust-ww2-japan.jpg|right|thumb|[[Governor General of Australia]] [[Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie|The Lord Gowrie]] (right) signing the [[declaration of war]] against [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] with [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[John Curtin]] (left) looking on. (8 December 1941) ]]
Under chapter II of section 68 titled ''Command of the naval and military forces'', the [[Constitution of Australia]] states that: {{Blockquote|The command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the Governor-General as the [[Monarchy of Australia#The Crown and the Australian Defence Force|Queen's]] representative.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Australian Constitution|68}}.</ref>{{efn|Since September 2022, a reference  to the Queen in a clause of the Constitution is now a reference to [[Charles III|King Charles III]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Parliamentary Education Office|author2=Australian Government Solicitor |title=Australia's Constitution: With Overview and Notes by the Australian Government Solicitor |date=November 2022 |page=iii |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/-/media/05_About_Parliament/52_Sen/523_PPP/2023_Australian_Constitution.pdf |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> [[Section 2 of the Constitution of Australia|Section 2]] of the Constitution states that provisions referring to the Queen in the Act "shall extend to Her Majesty's heirs and successors".<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Constitution|2}}</ref>}}}}

In practice, however, the governor-general does not play an active part in the [[Australian Defence Force]]'s command structure, and the [[Politics of Australia|democratically accountable]] [[Cabinet of Australia|Australian Cabinet]] (chaired by the [[Prime Minister of Australia|prime minister]]) ''de facto'' controls the ADF. The [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|minister for defence]] and several subordinate ministers exercise this control through the [[Australian Defence Organisation]]. Section 8 of the [[Defence Act 1903]] states:
{{Blockquote|The [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|minister]] shall have the general control and administration of the Defence Force, and the powers vested in the [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|chief of the defence force]], the [[Chief of Navy (Australia)|chief of Navy]], the [[Chief of Army (Australia)|chief of Army]] and the [[Chief of Air Force (Australia)|chief of Air Force]] by virtue of section 9, and the powers vested jointly in the [[Secretary of the Department of Defence (Australia)|secretary]] and the chief of the defence force by virtue of section 9A, shall be exercised subject to and in accordance with any directions of the Minister.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C1903A00020 | title = Defence Act 1903 | publisher = [[ComLaw]] | access-date = 2014-01-21 }}</ref>}}

===Austria===
Article 80 of the [[Constitution of Austria]] stipulates that the [[president of Austria]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Austrian Armed Forces]]. The same article designates the minister of defence as being in command of the army.

===Barbados===
According to the [[Constitution of Barbados]], the [[president of Barbados]] is the commander-in-chief of [[Barbados Defense Force]]. Between 1966 and 2021, prior to the transition to a republican system, the [[monarch of Barbados]], [[Queen Elizabeth II]], was head of the Defense Force, with the [[Governor-General of Barbados|governor-general of Barbados]] as her viceroy. The president adopted these powers.

===Bangladesh===
First President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the supreme commander of all the armed forces of the republic. In absence of him, then vice president Syed Nazrul Islam was acting president and acting supreme commander of all the armed forces of the republic.

The commander-in-chief of [[Bangladesh Armed Forces]] is the [[President of Bangladesh|president]], although executive power and responsibility for national defense resides with the [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh|prime minister]]. This is discharged through the [[Ministry of Defence (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Defence]], headed by the minister of defence, which provides the policy framework and resources to the Armed Forces to discharge their responsibilities in the context of the defence of the country.

The first commander-in-chief, General [[M. A. G. Osmani]], during [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971, who was commander of Muktibahini/[[Bangladesh Forces]], reinstated to active duty by official BD government order, which after independence was gazetted in 1972. He retired on 7 April 1972 and relinquished all authority and duties to the president of Bangladesh.<ref>Bangladesh : General M.A.G. Osmani (1918-1984) - C-IN-C Liberation Forces 1v MNH 1986</ref>

===Belarus===
[[File:Lukasjenko-31.jpg|thumb|President [[Alexander Lukashenko]] wearing the official uniform of the commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Belarus.]]

The [[president of Belarus]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Belarusian Armed Forces]] ({{Langx|be|Галоўнакамандуючы Узброенымі Сіламі Рэспублікі Беларусь}}).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://deti.mil.by/library_11_16/commander/glavkom_11_16/ |title=Детям об армии › Библиотека › Руководство вооруженных сил РБ › Главнокомандующий |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728181049/http://deti.mil.by/library_11_16/commander/glavkom_11_16/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Belarusian commander in chief has an official uniform befitting of the rank, which the president wears on official occasion and ceremonies in relation to the military. The role of commander in chief is laid out in Article 28 of the [[Constitution of Belarus]], which states that he/she has the authority to "appoint and dismiss the high command of the Armed Forces".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravo.by/|title=Национальный правовой Интернет-портал Республики Беларусь|website=Pravo.by|access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref>

=== Belgium ===
Article 167 of the [[Constitution of Belgium]] designates the [[Philippe of Belgium|king]] as the commander-in-chief. In practice, the [[Chief of Defence (Belgium)|chief of defence]] is the head and commander of the [[Belgian Armed Forces]]. He reports directly to the [[Ministry of Defence (Belgium)#Ministers of Defence|minister of defence]] and is responsible for advising the minister, for the implementation of defence policy and for the administration of the department.

===Bosnia and Herzegovina===
[[File:President Clinton meeting with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic in Tuzla, Bosnia - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency.jpg|thumb|Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina [[Alija Izetbegović]] (right) meeting with US president [[Bill Clinton]] (left) in 1997 in [[Tuzla]].]]

According to the [[Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina]], the collective [[presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. In peace, the commander-in-chief exercises his command through the [[Ministry of Defence (Bosnia and Herzegovina)|minister of defence]]. In war and in cases where the minister of defence is not fulfilling orders, the commander-in-chief exercises his command directly through the [[Chiefs of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina|chief of Joint Staff]].

===Brazil===
Article 142 of the [[Brazilian Constitution|Brazilian Constitution of 1988]] states that the [[Brazilian Armed Forces]] is under the supreme command of the [[President of Brazil|president of the Republic]].<ref>[http://bd.camara.gov.br/bd/bitstream/handle/bdcamara/1344/constituicao_ingles_3ed.pdf?sequence=7 Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil: 3rd Edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426071904/http://bd.camara.gov.br/bd/bitstream/handle/bdcamara/1344/constituicao_ingles_3ed.pdf?sequence=7 |date=26 April 2012 }}, [[Chamber of Deputies (Brazil)|Chamber of Deputies]] (2010) {{ISBN|978-85-736-5737-1}}. Retrieved on 21 August 2013.</ref>

===Brunei===
The [[sultan of Brunei]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Royal Brunei Armed Forces]].

=== Canada ===
{{Further|Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces}}
[[File:His Majesty King George VI inspects a Guard of Honour during the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.jpg|thumb|King [[George VI]] inspects a [[Royal Canadian Navy]] guard of honour during the [[1939 royal tour of Canada]].]]
The powers of command-in-chief over the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] are vested in the [[Monarchy of Canada|Canadian monarch]],<ref>{{Citation|title=Constitution Act, 1867 |series=III.15 |location=Westminster |publisher=Queen's Printer |url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-1.html#h-3 |access-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528180209/http://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-1.html |archive-date=28 May 2013 }}</ref> and are delegated to the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general of Canada]], who also uses the title ''Commander-in-Chief''.<ref>{{Citation| title=Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor General of Canada| series=X.| location=Ottawa| date=1 October 1947| publisher=King's Printer for Canada| url=http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/LettersPatent.html| access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref> In this capacity, the governor general is entitled to the uniform of a general/flag officer, with the crest of the office and special cuff braid serving as rank insignia.

By constitutional convention, the Crown's prerogative powers over the armed forces and constitutional powers as commander-in-chief are exercised on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister]] and the rest of [[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]], the governing ministry that commands the confidence of the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]]. According to the [[National Defence Act]], the [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|minister of national defence]] is responsible and accountable to the [[Parliament of Canada]] for all matters related to national defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.<ref>{{Citation| title=National Defence Act| url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-5/index.html | access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref>

===Croatia===
According to the [[Constitution of Croatia|Croatian constitution]], the [[president of Croatia]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia]]. There was originally a rank insignia and name for the position, known as "Vrhovnik". This was held by former President [[Franjo Tudjman]] and was abolished after his death. In peace, the commander-in-chief exercises his command through the minister of defence. In war and in cases where the [[Ministry of Defense (Croatia)|minister of defence]] is not fulfilling orders, the commander-in-chief exercises his command directly through the chief of [[General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia|General Staff]].

===Czechia===
According to the [[Constitution of the Czech Republic|1992 constitution]], the [[president of the Czech Republic]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Military of the Czech Republic|Armed Forces]] according to Article 63(1)(c), and appoints and promotes generals under Article 63(1)(f). The president needs the [[countersignature]] of the [[Prime Minister of the Czech Republic|prime minister]] for decisions concerning the above-mentioned provisions as per Articles 63(3–4), or otherwise, they are not valid. The prime minister may delegate to other ministers the right to countersign these decisions of the president. The political responsibility for the Armed Forces is borne by the [[Government of the Czech Republic|Government]], which in Article 67 is defined as the "supreme body of executive power". According to Articles 39 & 43, the [[Parliament of the Czech Republic|Parliament]] must give consent to the dispatch of Czech military forces outside the territory of the Czech Republic.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hrad.cz/en/czech-republic/constitution-of-the-cr.shtml | title = Constitution of the CR of December 16, 1992. | publisher = [[President of the Czech Republic]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 }}</ref>

The [[Ministry of Defence (Czech Republic)|Ministry of Defence]] is the central authority of the state administration for the control of the Armed Forces.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=5723 | title = Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic | publisher = [[Ministry of Defence (Czech Republic)|Ministry of Defence]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 }}</ref> The actual day-to-day management is vested in the chief of the general staff, the Czech [[chief of defence]] equivalent.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=5762 | title = Professional Army | publisher = [[Ministry of Defence (Czech Republic)|Ministry of Defence]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 }}</ref>

===Denmark===
[[File:Christian IV by Vilhelm Marstrand.png|thumb|King [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]] on board his flagship during the 1644 [[Battle of Colberger Heide]], by [[Wilhelm Marstrand]]. The king's personal commitment during the battle, are memorialized in first lines of the [[Kong Christian stod ved højen mast|Danish royal anthem]].]]
The position of the [[Monarchy of Denmark|Danish monarch]] as the head of the military is deeply rooted in tradition. While the [[Constitution of Denmark|1953 constitution]] does not explicitly designate the monarch as commander-in-chief; it is implicit, given the general provision in article 12 and the more specific wording of article 19 (2): "Except for purposes of defence against an armed attack upon the Realm or Danish forces, the King shall not use military force against any foreign state without the consent of the [[Folketing]]. Any measure which the King may take in pursuance of this provision shall forthwith be submitted to the Folketing".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/Publications/~/media/Pdf_materiale/Pdf_publikationer/English/The_constitutional_act_of_denmark_2013.pdf.ashx | title = Constitution Act | publisher = [[Folketing]] | access-date = 10 January 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20140703054726/http%3A//www.thedanishparliament.dk/Publications/%7E/media/Pdf_materiale/Pdf_publikationer/English/The_constitutional_act_of_denmark_2013.pdf.ashx | archive-date = 3 July 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

However, when reading the Danish Constitution, it is important to bear in mind that the k''ing'' in this context is understood by Danish jurists to be read as the ''[[Cabinet of Denmark|government]]'' (consisting of the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister]] and other ministers). This is a logical consequence of articles 12, 13 and 14, all of which in essence stipulates that the powers vested in the monarch can only be exercised through ministers, who are responsible for all acts. Thus, the Government, in effect, holds the supreme command authority implied in articles 12 and 19(2).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/Publications/~/media/Pdf_materiale/Pdf_publikationer/English/My_Constitutional_Act_v_11_2013.pdf.ashx |title=My Constitution Act with Explanations 2013 |publisher=[[Folketing]] |access-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103060508/http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/Publications/~/media/Pdf_materiale/Pdf_publikationer/English/My_Constitutional_Act_v_11_2013.pdf.ashx |archive-date=3 November 2013 }}</ref>

The Danish Defence Law ({{langx|da|Forsvarsloven}}) designates in article 9 the [[Minister of Defence (Denmark)|minister of defence]] as the supreme authority in [[Danish Defence|Defence]] ({{langx|da|højeste ansvarlige myndighed for forsvaret}}). Under the minister is the [[Chief of Defence (Denmark)|chief of defence]], the senior-ranking professional military officer heading the [[Defence Command (Denmark)|Defence Command]], who commands the [[Royal Danish Army|Army]], the [[Royal Danish Navy|Navy]], the [[Royal Danish Air Force|Air Force]] and other units not reporting directly to the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=6294 | title = LOV nr 122 af 27/02/2001 om forsvarets formål, opgaver og organisation m.v. | access-date = 10 January 2014 | language = da}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts%20and%20Figures/Documents/Fakta%20om%20Forsvaret_UK.pdf | title = Facts and Figures | publisher = [[Danish Defence]] | access-date = 10 January 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131208034816/http://www.forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts%20and%20Figures/Documents/Fakta%20om%20Forsvaret_UK.pdf | archive-date = 8 December 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Dominican Republic===
According to the [[Constitution of the Dominican Republic|Constitution]], Article 128, Section II, Title IV, the [[President of the Dominican Republic|president]] is the head of foreign policy, the civil administration and the commander-in-chief of the [[Military of the Dominican Republic|Armed Forces]], the [[Dominican National Police|National Police]] and all other state's security agencies.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=229500 | title = Constitucion de la República Dominicana | publisher = [[World Intellectual Property Organization]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 | language = es}}</ref>

===Egypt===
In [[Egypt]], the [[President of Egypt|president of the Republic]] holds the ceremonial title of Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. A member of the government, usually defence minister, is commander-in-chief of the [[Egyptian Armed Forces]]. The president is the only individual capable of declaring war. With the exception of [[Mohamed Morsi]], who briefly served as president from 2012 to 2013, all Egyptian presidents have been former military officers. During the [[Yom Kippur War]], the president played a major role at all levels of the planning of the war, and was, in a literal sense, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, giving direct orders to the commanders from the headquarters during the war as [[field marshal]] of the [[Egyptian Army|army]], [[marshal of the air force]] and air defence forces and admiral of the [[Egyptian Navy|navy]].

===Eswatini===
The [[king of Eswatini]] is the commander in chief of the [[Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force]].

===Finland===
[[File:Mannerheim in 1941.jpg|thumb|upright|[[C. G. E. Mannerheim]], the [[Marshal of Finland]], as the commander-in-chief in 1941 during the [[Continuation War]]]]
According to the [[Constitution of Finland|Finnish constitution]], the [[president of Finland]] is the commander-in-chief of all [[Military of Finland|Finnish military forces]]. In practice, the everyday command and control is in the hands of the [[Chief of Defence (Finland)|chief of defence]] and the commander of the [[Finnish Border Guard]]. The economic administration of the [[Finnish Defence Force]] is the responsibility of [[Ministry of Defence (Finland)|Ministry of Defence]]. The duty of the president is to decide upon<ref name="laki puol">[https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2007/551 Laki puolustusvoimista (551/2007)]. (Act on the Defence Forces) Retrieved on 30 August 2015. {{in lang|fi}}</ref>{{rp|§31}}
* main principles of the military defence of the realm
* principles of the execution of the military defence
* other military command matters with wide-ranging importance to the military activity or the military establishment
* any other military command issue that he wishes to decide upon

Since the constitutional reform of 2000, the [[Minister of Defence (Finland)|minister of defence]] has the right to be present when the president uses his command powers, unless the matter is of immediate concern. In questions of strategic importance, the [[Prime Minister of Finland|prime minister]] has the same right.<ref name="laki puol" />{{rp|§32}}

The president commissions and promotes officers and decides on activating reservists for extraordinary service and on the mobilisation of the Defence Forces.<ref name="laki puol" />{{rp|§40}}<ref>[https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2007/1438 Asevelvollisuuslaki (1438/2007)]. (Conscription Act) §§82–83. Retrieved on 30 August 2015. {{in lang|fi}}</ref><ref name="perustuslaki" />{{rp|§ 128.2}} If [[Parliament of Finland|Parliament]] is not in session when a decision to mobilise is taken, it must be immediately convened.<ref name = "perustuslaki" />{{rp|§ 129}} Declarations of a state of emergency ({{langx|fi|valmiustila}}, literally, "state of preparedness") and state of war ({{langx|fi|puolustustila}}, lit. "state of defence") are declared by a presidential decree, given after a motion by the government, which is then submitted to the Parliament for ratification.<ref>[https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2011/1552 Valmiuslaki (552/2011)]. (Preparedness Act) §§6–9. Retrieved on 30 August 2015. {{in lang|fi}}</ref><ref>[https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/1991/1083 Puolustustilalaki (1083/1991)] (State of Defence Act) §§3–4. Retrieved on 30 August 2015. {{in lang|fi}}</ref>

The president has, in a state of emergency, the right to transfer the position of the commander-in-chief to another Finnish citizen.<ref name="perustuslaki">[https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/1999/731 Suomen perustuslaki. (731/1999, as amended by later amendments)]. (Finnish Constitution). Retrieved 30 August 2015. {{in lang|fi}}</ref>{{rp|§ 129}}

===France===
{{main|Chief of the Armed Forces (France)}}
In [[France]], the [[President of France|president of the Republic]] is designated as "''Chef des Armées''" (literally "Chief of the Armies") under article 15 of the [[Constitution of France|Constitution]]; the officeholder is as such the supreme executive authority in military affairs. Article 16 provides the president with extensive [[emergency powers]].<ref name="Constitution of 4 October 1958">[http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/english/index.asp Constitution of 4 October 1958], [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly of France]]. Retrieved on 13 May 2013.</ref>

However, owing to the nature of the [[semi-presidential system]], the [[Prime Minister of France|prime minister]] also has key constitutional powers under article 21: "He shall be responsible for national defence" and has "power to make regulations and shall make appointments to civil and military posts".<ref name="Constitution of 4 October 1958"/>

{{Gallery
|title=
|align=center
|File:Nicolas Sarkozy Bastille Day 2008 n1.jpg|[[President of France|President of the Republic]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] and General [[Jean-Louis Georgelin]], [[Chief of the Defence Staff (France)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], reviewing troops during the 2008 [[Bastille Day military parade]] on the [[Champs-Élysées]] in [[Paris]].
|File:Iena.jpg|[[Napoleon|Napoléon I]], [[Emperor of the French]], reviewing the [[French Imperial Guard|Imperial Guard]] at the [[Battle of Jena-Auerstedt]] in 1806. ''[[The Battle of Jena]]'' by [[Horace Vernet]].
}}

====Pre-1958====
Since the reign of [[Louis XIV]], France has been strongly centralised. After crushing local nobles engaged in warlord-ism, the kings of France retained all authority with the help of able yet discreet Prime ministers ([[Cardinal Mazarin|Mazarin]], [[Cardinal Richelieu|Richelieu]]).

The [[French Revolution]] transferred the supreme authority to the king (in the context of the short-lived constitutional monarchy), then to the multi-member ''[[Committee of Public Safety|Comité de Salut Public]]'' during the ''[[National Convention|Convention]]'', as well as later to the ''[[French Directory|Directoire]]'', before being regained in the hands of [[French Consulate|Consul]] [[Napoleon|Napoléon Bonaparte]], later [[First French Empire|Emperor Napoléon I]], alone.

The ''[[Bourbon Restoration in France|Restoration]]'' restored the authority of the king, first in an absolute monarchy, then the constitutional [[July Monarchy]] of [[Louis Philippe I|Louis Philippe]], before it was overthrown in turn by the [[French Second Republic|Second Republic]] and later the [[Second French Empire|Second Empire]] of [[Napoleon III]].

The following [[French Third Republic|Third Republic]] was a parliamentary system, where the military authority was held by the [[Prime Minister of France|president of the Council of Ministers]], head of government, although the president, head of state, retained ceremonial powers. During [[World War I]], the many visits to the trenches by the elder statesman [[Georges Clemenceau]] impressed the soldiers and earned him the nickname ''Father of Victory'' ({{langx|fr|Le Père de la Victoire}}).

During [[World War II]], ''[[Marshal of France|Maréchal]]'' [[Philippe Pétain]] assumed power and held the supreme authority in [[Vichy France]], while Général [[Charles de Gaulle]], acting on behalf of the previous regime, founded the [[Free France|Free French Forces]], upon which he held supreme authority all through the war.

The following and short-lived [[French Fourth Republic|Fourth Republic]] was a parliamentary system, which was replaced by the present [[French Fifth Republic|Fifth Republic]], a [[semi-presidential system]].

===Ghana===
According to the [[Constitution of Ghana]], the [[president of Ghana]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Ghana Armed Forces]]. He holds the rank of [[Field Marshal]].

===Guyana===
According to the Guyanese constitution, the president is commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. There is a rank insignia for the position.
[[File:Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Commander in Chief rank insignia.svg|thumb|50px|Guyanese Commander in Chief rank insignia]]

===India===
[[file:Droupadi Murmu official portrait.jpg|thumb|right|President [[Droupadi Murmu]] (2022).]]

The '''supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces''' is the principal commanding authority of the [[Indian Armed Forces]], a position that is vested in the [[head of state]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=L27fjrUeP3JVeOMRLvuLoA==&ParentID=FZj2hrJY1pO4L/hQ2j/a/w==#:~:text=The%20President%20of%20India%20is,of%20the%20Indian%20Armed%20Forces.|title = Know your Army|date = 27 January 2021}}</ref> the [[president of India|president of the Republic]], in accordance to Article 53 of the [[Constitution of India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1597349/|title = Article 53 in the Constitution of India 1949}}</ref>

The president exercises supreme command with accordance to the law. As commander in chief, the president has the power to declare war however they must subject to the approval of the [[Parliament of India]]. The commander in chief also appoints the chiefs of each branch of the armed forces as well as the [[Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee]] with the advice of the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]].

Whilst the constitution names the president as the ''[[de jure]]'' commander in chief, executive command authority is exercised ''[[de facto]]'' by the prime minister and their [[Union Council of Ministers]].

On 15 August 1947, each service was placed under its own commander-in-chief. In 1955, the three service chiefs were re-designated as the [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|chief of the Army staff]] (rank of [[General (India)|general]]), the [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|chief of the naval staff]] (rank of [[vice admiral]]) and the [[Chief of Air Staff (India)|chief of the air staff]] (rank of [[air marshal]]) with the president as the supreme commander. The chief of the air staff was raised to the rank of [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|air chief marshal]] in 1965 and the chief of the naval staff raised to the rank of [[Admiral (India)|admiral]] in 1968. Starting from 1 January 2020, all the three chiefs of staff report to the newly formed [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|chief of defence staff]].

===Indonesia===
According to article 10 of the [[Constitution of Indonesia]], the [[president of Indonesia]] holds the supreme command of the [[Indonesian National Armed Forces]]. Day-to-day operations of the Armed Forces is handled by the [[Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces|commander of the Armed Forces]] ({{langx|id|Panglima TNI}}), a 4-star officer whom can be a general ([[Indonesian Army|Army]]/[[Indonesian Marine Corps|Marine]]), an admiral ([[Indonesian Navy|Navy]]), or an air chief marshal ([[Indonesian Air Forces|Air Force]]). The commander of the Armed Forces is appointed by the president from active chiefs of staff ([[Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army|Army]], [[Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy|Navy]], or [[Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force|Air Force]]) and must get approval from the [[People's Representative Council|House of Representatives]]. The chief of staff is also appointed by the president from senior military officers. The president as commander-in-chief also has authority in senior military officer mutation and promotion in tour of duty. The [[Ministry of Defence (Indonesia)|minister of defense]] has responsibility to assist the president in defense issues and create policies about authorization use of military force, manage defense budget, etc. According to article 11 of the Constitution, For authorization use of military forces or declaration of war, the president must get approval from House of Representatives. The commander of the Armed Forces gives recommendations to the minister of defense in creating national defense policies.

===Iran===
Before 1979, the [[shah]] was the commander-in-chief in Iran. After the inception of the Islamic Republic, the [[president of Iran]] was initially appointed that task, with [[Abolhassan Bani Sadr]] being the first commander-in-chief. However, Abolhassan Bani Sadr was impeached on 22 June 1981. It was after this event that the role of commander-in-chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran]] was given to the [[Supreme Leader of Iran]].

===Ireland===
The supreme commander of the [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Defence Forces]] is the [[president of Ireland]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.ie/role-of-the-president/|title=Official President.ie site - Roles of the President|publisher=Áras an Uachtaráin|access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref> but in practice the [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|minister for defence]] acts on the president's behalf and reports to the [[Government of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1954/en/act/pub/0018/index.html|title=Statute Book - Defence Act, 1954 |quote=Under the direction of the President, and subject to the provisions of this Act, the military command of, and all executive and administrative powers in relation to, the Defence Forces, including the power to delegate command and authority, shall be exercisable by the Government and, subject to such exceptions and limitations as the Government may from time to time determine, through and by the Minister.|access-date=1 May 2015}}</ref> The minister for defence is advised by the Council of Defence on the business of the [[Department of Defence (Ireland)|Department of Defence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1924/en/act/pub/0016/print.html|title=Statute Book - Ministers And Secretaries Act, 1924 |quote=the Minister for Defence [...] shall be assisted by a Council of Defence|access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref> The Defence Forces are organised under the chief of staff, a [[Three-star rank|three star officer]], and are organised into three service branches, the [[Irish Army|Army]], [[Irish Naval Service|Naval Service]], and [[Air Corps (Ireland)|Air Corps]].

===Italy===
The [[Constitution of Italy]], in article 87, states that the [[President of the Italian Republic|president of the Republic]]:
"is the commander of the [[Italian Armed Forces|armed forces]] and chairman of the supreme defense council constituted by law,       although effective executive power and responsibility for national defence resides with the government headed by the [[Prime Minister of Italy|prime minister]]; the president declares war according to the decision of the [[Parliament of Italy|parliament]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.senato.it/documenti/repository/istituzione/costituzione_inglese.pdf|title=Constitution of Italy|website=Senato.it|access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Mattarella depone una corona d’alloro sulla Tomba del Milite Ignoto, 2022 (7).jpg | thumb|220x124px | right | President of Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella lays a laurel wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome, 2022]]

===Kenya===
Chapter 131 of the [[Constitution of Kenya]] identifies the [[President of Kenya|president]] as the commander-in-chief of the [[Kenya Defence Forces]] and the chairperson of the National Security Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kenyaembassy.com/pdfs/The%20Constitution%20of%20Kenya.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035458/http://www.kenyaembassy.com/pdfs/the%20constitution%20of%20kenya.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> There is a rank for the position. The president appoints a [[Chief of the General Staff (Kenya)|chief of general staff]], known as the ''Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces'', who acts as the principal military adviser to the president and the National Security Council. The Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces is drawn from one of the branches of the Armed Forces, the [[Kenya Army]], the [[Kenya Navy]] or the [[Kenya Air Force]].

===Latvia===
In accordance with Article 42 of the [[Constitution of Latvia]], the [[president of Latvia]] is Commander-in-Chief of the [[Latvian National Armed Forces]]. The president may appoint a chief military commander in times of war.

===Malaysia===
In accordance with Article 41 of the [[Constitution of Malaysia|Federal Constitution of Malaysia]], the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] is [[Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces]] and holds the rank of [[Field Marshal]]. As such, he is the highest-ranking officer in the military establishment, with the power to appoint the Chief of Staff (on the advice of the [[Malaysian Armed Forces Council|Armed Forces Council]]). He also appoints the service heads of each of the three branches of the military.

The Federal Constitution establishes that the office of Supreme Commander is attached to the person of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Federation's head of state:
* Federal Constitution, Article 41 - The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Federation.
The Federal Parliament passed the Federal Armed Forces Act to consolidate in one law all regulations that govern the three services ( Army, Navy, and Air Force ). It establishes the function and duties of the Federal Head of State in the capacity as Supreme Commander.

===Mexico===
Section VI of Article 89 of the [[Constitution of Mexico|Constitution]] states that the [[President of Mexico|president of the United Mexican States]] shall "Preserve national security, in accordance with the respective law, and dispose of the full [[Mexican Armed Forces|permanent Armed Force]], that is to say the [[Mexican Army|Army]], the [[Mexican Navy|Navy]] and the [[Mexican Air Force|Air Force]], for the interior security and exterior defense of the Federation".<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos|url=http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/1_110321.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313220556/http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/1_110321.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2021 }}</ref>

Both the Organic Law of the Mexican Army and Air Force and the Organic Law of the Mexican Navy clearly state the president of the Republic is "Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces". The President is ''ex officio'' the only five-star general of Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ley Orgánica del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos|url=http://www.ordenjuridico.gob.mx/Documentos/Federal/html/wo13238.html#:~:text=El%20Mando%20Supremo%20del%20Ej%C3%A9rcito,Supremo%20de%20las%20Fuerzas%20Armadas.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129182552/http://www.ordenjuridico.gob.mx:80/Documentos/Federal/html/wo13238.html |archive-date=29 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ley Orgánica de la Armada de México|url=http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/249_190517.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622021232/http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/249_190517.pdf |archive-date=22 June 2017 }}</ref>

The Constitution also grants the president freedom to appoint and remove the [[Secretariat of the Navy|secretary of the Navy]] and the [[Secretariat of National Defense (Mexico)|secretary of national defense]].

===New Zealand===
{{main|Head of the Armed Forces (New Zealand)#Commander-in-Chief}}
Both the [[Monarchy of New Zealand|Monarch of New Zealand]] and their representative, the [[governor-general of New Zealand|governor-general]], constitutionally serve as the supreme authority in defence matters in New Zealand.<ref name=terra>{{cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/armed-forces/page-3|title=Page 3. Governance of the New Zealand armed forces|publisher=New Zealand Government|website=Teara.govt.nz|date=1 April 2020|access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> The position of commander-in-chief is vested in the sovereign by the constitution. In practice however, the position of the commander-in-chief is largely ceremonial, with the governor-general primarily serving as a "patron of the New Zealand Defence Force".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gg.govt.nz/publications/governor-generals-role-commander-chief-0|title=The Governor-General's role as Commander-in-Chief|date=10 December 2007|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Gg.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government}}</ref> The governor-general exercises their authority as commander-in-chief on the advice of the minister of defence or other ministers of the [[New Zealand Government]].<ref name=terra/><ref name=nzdefact>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0028/latest/whole.html?search=sw_096be8ed819fea9b_commander-in-chief_25_se&p=1#DLM205881|title=Defence Act 1990|publisher=New Zealand Government|website=Legislation.govt.nz|access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

The [[Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand|Letter Patents 1983]] consolidated the roles of governor-general and commander-in-chief into one office, with its compounded title being the ''Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1983/0225/latest/whole.html|title=Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand|publisher=New Zealand Government|website=Legislation.govt.nz|access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> The governor-general's is statutorily defined in the ''[[Defence Act 1990]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/resources/defence-force-report-dec-02?e381=action_viewall|title=Review of the Performance of the Defence Force in Relation to Expected Standards of Behaviour, and in Particular the Leaking and Inappropriate Use of Information by Defence Force Personnel|publisher=Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission|access-date=3 November 2021|date=16 July 2002|website=Publicservice.govt.nz|archive-date=1 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401052202/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/resources/defence-force-report-dec-02?e381=action_viewall|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sections five and six of the ''Defence Act 1990'' outlines the governor-general's authority to raise and maintain armed forces.<ref name=nzdefact/>

===Nigeria===
In accordance with the [[Constitution of Nigeria|Nigerian Constitution]], the president of [[Nigeria]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Nigerian Armed Forces]].

=== Norway ===
[[Harald V]], King of [[Norway]], officially retains executive power. Article 25 of the constitution states: "The King is commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the realm"

However, following the introduction of a parliamentary system of government, the duties of the [[Norwegian royal family|monarch]] have since become strictly representative and ceremonial, such as the formal appointment and dismissal of the prime minister and other ministers in the executive government. Accordingly, the Monarch is commander-in-chief of the [[Norwegian Armed Forces]], and serves as chief diplomatic official abroad and as a symbol of unity.

===Pakistan===
{{Further|Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army}}
In [[Pakistan]], before the [[Constitution of Pakistan#The Constitution of 1973 -- the existing Constitution|1973 Constitution]], the head of the army, was known as the [[Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army|commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Army]], heads of the navy and the air force were also titled as "Commander-in-Chief".<ref name="Har-Anand Publications, Bajwa">{{cite book|last1=Bajwa|first1=Kuldip Singh|title=Jammu and Kashmir war, 1947-1948 : political and military perspective|date=2003|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788124109236|page=350|edition=1st|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7bREjE5yXNMC&q=commander+in+chief+army++pakistan+1947&pg=PA105|access-date=24 July 2017|language=en|chapter-format=google books|chapter=Kashmir Valley Saved}}</ref> The head of army term was replaced to "[[Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan|Chief of Army Staff]]" on 20 March 1972 during military reforms {{rp|62}}<ref name="Lancer Publishers, Singh">{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Ravi Shekhar Narain Singh|title=The Military Factor in Pakistan|date=2008|publisher=Lancer Publishers|location=London, UK|isbn=9780981537894|page=550|edition=1st|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wCm2DFZblOYC&q=Tikka+Khan+first+army+chief&pg=PA62|access-date=24 July 2017|language=en|chapter-format=googlebooks|chapter=Military and Politics}}</ref> The chief of staff is a four-star officer whose term is 3 years, but can be extended or renewed once. After 1973 constitution The chief of Army/Air/Naval staff is chosen by the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|prime minister of Pakistan]] and appointed by the [[president of Pakistan]] as commander in chief of [[Pakistan Armed Forces]].
So, the [[president of Pakistan]] is the commander-in-chief.

===Philippines===
{{Main|Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines}}

The [[president of the Philippines]] is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]], and is mandated by Article VII, Section 18 of the [[1987 Constitution]] to be commander-in-chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines|Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/the-philippine-constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-vii/ | title = THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES – ARTICLE VII | newspaper = [[Official Gazette (Philippines)|Official Gazette]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 }}</ref>

===Poland===
The [[president of Poland]] is the supreme commander ({{langx|pl|najwyższy zwierzchnik}}) of the [[Polish Armed Forces]] according to the [[Constitution of Poland|Constitution]] and  in times of peace exercises their authority through [[Ministry of National Defence (Poland)|Minister of National Defence]]. However, the art. 134 ust. 4 of the constitution states:<ref>[[Constitution of Poland|Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2 April 1997]]. [https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/1997/s/78/483 Dz.U. 1997 nr 78 poz. 483] ([https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=wdu19970780483 ISAP]), further amended (in Polish). [https://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm English translation].</ref> {{Blockquote|The President of the Republic, for a period of war, shall appoint the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on request of the Prime Minister. He may dismiss the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in accordance with the same procedure. The authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as well as the principle of his subordination to the constitutional organs of the Republic of Poland, shall be specified by statute.}}

During the [[Interbellum Poland|interbellum period]], the [[General Inspector of the Armed Forces]] was appointed the commander-in-chief for the time of war (Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces). However, after the war this function ceased to exist—thus it is likely that if Poland formally participates in a war, the [[General Staff of the Polish Army|chief of the general staff of the Polish Armed Forces]] will be appointed supreme commander.

===Portugal===
The [[president of the Portuguese Republic]] is the constitutional supreme commander of the [[Portuguese Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] (in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]: ''Comandante Supremo das Forças Armadas''). However, the operational command is delegated in the [[General Staff of the Armed Forces (Portugal)|chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces]].

In the Portuguese military parlance, the term "Commander-in-Chief" (in Portuguese: ''comandante-em-chefe'' or simply ''comandante-chefe'') refers to the unified military commander of all the land, naval and air forces in a theater of operations.

===Russia===
{{Main|Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces}}

[[File:Vladimir Putin inauguration 7 May 2012-26.jpeg|thumb|The ceremony of passing the ''[[Cheget]]'' (i.e. the nuclear briefcase) from [[Dmitry Medvedev]]'s military aide to [[Vladimir Putin]]'s military aide during the [[Russian presidential inauguration|2012 presidential inauguration]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/2004/sep/tsypkinSept04.asp |title=Adventures of the "Nuclear Briefcase" |author=Mikhail Tsypkin |journal=Strategic Insights |volume=3 |issue=9 |date=September 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923072304/http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/2004/sep/tsypkinSept04.asp |archive-date=23 September 2004}}</ref>]]

According to the [[Constitution of Russia|Constitution of the Russian Federation]], (Chapter 4, Article 87, Section 1) the [[President of Russia|president]] is the [[Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation|Supreme Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Russian Federation|Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://eng.constitution.kremlin.ru | title=The Constitution of the Russian Federation | publisher = [[Presidential Administration of Russia]] | access-date = 10 January 2014 }}</ref> The president approves the [[military doctrine of Russia|military doctrine]] and appoints the [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|defense minister]] and the [[Chief of the General Staff (Russia)|chief]] and other members of the [[General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation|general staff]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://eng.state.kremlin.ru/president/commander | title = Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces | publisher = [[Presidential Administration of Russia]] | access-date = 10 February 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222214957/http://eng.state.kremlin.ru/president/commander | archive-date = 22 February 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

The [[Russian Armed Forces]] is divided into three services: the [[Russian Ground Forces]], the [[Russian Navy]], and the [[Russian Aerospace Forces]]. In addition there are two independent ''arms of service'': [[RVSN|Strategic Missile Troops]], and the [[Russian Airborne Forces]]. The Air Defence Troops, the former [[Soviet Air Defence Forces]], have been subordinated into the Air Force since 1998.

===Rwanda===
According to the [[Constitution of Rwanda]], the [[president of Rwanda]] is the commander-in-chief of [[Rwandan Defence Forces|Rwanda Defence Forces]].

===Saudi Arabia===
[[File:Saudi Arabian Military Forces Emblem.svg|thumb|Emblem of the [[Saudi Arabian Military Forces|Military Forces of Saudi Arabia]]]]
Article 60 of the [[Basic Law of Saudi Arabia]] states: "The [[King of Saudi Arabia|King]] is the commander-in-chief of all the Military Forces. He appoints officers and puts an end to their duties in accordance with the law."

Article 61 further states: "The King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization and war, and the law defines the rules for this."

Lastly, Article 62 states: "If there is a danger threatening the safety of the Kingdom or its territorial integrity, or the security of its people and its interests, or which impedes the functioning of the state institutions, the King may take urgent measures in order to deal with this danger And if the King considers that these measures should continue, he may then implement the necessary regulations to this end."

===Serbia===
In accordance with the law, the [[president of Serbia]] is the commander-in-chief of Armed Forces and in command of the military. He appoints, promotes and recalls officers of the [[Military of Serbia|Army of Serbia]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.predsednik.rs/en/president | title = President of Serbia | publisher = Presidential Administration of Serbia| access-date = 6 September 2016 }}</ref>

===Slovenia===
In Slovenia, the commander-in-chief is formally the [[president of Slovenia]]. In peacetime, the role of commander in chief is usually assumed by the minister of defence.

=== South Africa ===
Chapter 11, section 202(1) of the [[Constitution of South Africa]] states that the [[president of South Africa]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[South African National Defence Force]]. The constitution places conditions on when and how that power may be employed and requires regular reports to the [[Parliament of South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/constitution/SAConstitution-web-eng.pdf|title=The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa|year=1996|access-date=13 May 2019|archive-date=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425031318/http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/constitution/SAConstitution-web-eng.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===South Korea===
[[File:Yoon Suk-yeol in May 2022.jpg|thumb|150px|Former President of [[South Korea]], [[Yoon Suk-yeol]]]]
In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, the commander-in-chief and the supreme authority on all military matters is the [[president of South Korea]].

===Spain===
[[File:Felipe VI - 14.07.11-Escuela Marina-1-San Fernando-edit2.jpg|thumb|King [[Felipe VI of Spain|Felipe VI]] in uniform of [[Captain General of the Navy]] at the [[Escuela de Suboficiales de la Armada (San Fernando)|Naval NCO Academy]] in 2014.]]
As with most remaining European monarchies, the position of the Spanish monarch as the nominal head of the armed forces is deeply rooted in tradition.

The [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] authorizes the [[Monarchy of Spain|king]] in article 62 (h): {{blockquote|to exercise supreme command of the [[Spanish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]]<ref name="Spain" />|author=|title=|source=}}

The king regularly chairs sessions of the National Security Council, the Joint Chiefs of staff and the individual general staffs of each branch of the Armed Forces in his capacity as supreme commander.

All promotions to military rank and positions in the high command of the armed forces are made by Royal decree signed by the king and the minister of defense

However, article 64 require that all official acts of the king must be [[countersignature|countersigned]], by the [[President of the Government (Spain)|president of the Government]] or other [[Ministry of Defence (Spain)|competent minister]], for them to become valid. This counter/signature is used to limit a possible abuse of power by any single individual.

This constitutional provision can and has been made the subject of an exception in crisis situations.

In 1981 the king as supreme commander of the armed forces assumed direct command in order to put down a [[1981 Spanish coup d'état attempt|military coup attempt]]. All members of the government were at that time trapped/held hostage in Parliament and were unable to counter sign the kings orders. This did not however result in those orders being ruled unenforceable or unconstitutional. The coup collapsed after the king ordered all army units to leave the streets and return to their barracks. Furthermore, article 97 stipulates that; {{Blockquote|The [[Cabinet of Spain|Government]] shall conduct domestic and foreign policy, civil and military administration and the defence of the State<ref name="Spain" />|author=|title=|source=}}

No provision in the constitution requires the king/government to seek approval from the [[Cortes Generales]] before sending the armed forces abroad.<ref name="Spain">[http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/NR/rdonlyres/21C3D325-5C04-4B65-BE6C-A9A34F77FDC7/236841/Constitucion_Inglescorregido.pdf Constitution of Spain 1978], [[Government of Spain]]. Retrieved on 9 January 2014.</ref>

Since 1984, the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Spain)|chief of the defence staff]] is the professional head of the armed forces and, under the authority of the [[Minister of Defence (Spain)|minister of defence]], is responsible for military operations and military organisation.

===Sri Lanka===
As head of state, the [[president of Sri Lanka]], is nominally the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The [[National Security Council of Sri Lanka|National Security Council]], chaired by the president is the authority charged with formulating and executing defence policy for the nation. The highest level of military headquarters is the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Defence]], since 1978 except for a few rare occasions the president retained the portfolio defence, thus being the minister of defence. The ministry and the armed forces have been controlled by the during these periods by either a [[Minister of State|minister of state]], [[Deputy Minister|deputy minister]] for defence, and of recently the [[Permanent Secretary|permanent secretary]] to the Ministry of Defence. Prior to 1978 the [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|prime minister]] held the portfolio of minister of defence and external affairs, and was supported by a [[Parliamentary Secretary|parliamentary secretary]] for defence and external affairs.

Responsibility for the management of the forces is Ministry of Defence, while the planning and execution of [[combined operations]] is the responsibility of the Joint Operations Command (JOC). The JOC is headed by the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|chief of the defence staff]] who is the most senior officer in the Armed Forces and is an appointment that can be held by an [[Air Chief Marshal|air chief marshal]], [[admiral]], or [[general]]. The three services have their own respective professional chiefs: the [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|commander of the Army]], the [[Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)|commander of the Navy]] and the [[Commander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)|commander of the Air Force]], who have much autonomy.

===Suriname===
In [[Suriname]], the constitution gives the [[President of Suriname|president]] "supreme authority over the armed forces and all of its members".<ref>[http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Suriname/english.html Suriname Constitution] See Article 100</ref>

===Taiwan===
As stipulated in the [[Constitution of the Republic of China]], the [[President of the Republic of China|president]] is also the commander-in-chief of the [[Republic of China Armed Forces|ROC Armed Forces]].

===Thailand===
{{Further|The Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces}}

The "head of the Thai Armed Forces" ({{langx|th|จอมทัพไทย}}; {{RTGS|Chom Thap Thai}}) is a position vested in the [[Monarchy of Thailand|Thai monarch]],{{efn|Most recently held by [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|King Bhumibol Adulyadej]] until his death in October 2016, and now by [[Vajiralongkorn|King Vajiralongkorn]].}} who as sovereign and head of state is the commander-in-chief of the [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schq.mi.th/EN/vision_mission.htm |title=Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters English version |access-date=18 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418003625/http://www.schq.mi.th/EN/vision_mission.htm |archive-date=18 April 2009 }}</ref>[[File:Mehmed Emin-Mustafa Kemal-Ali Said 1925.jpg|thumb|[[Mareşal (Turkey)|Mareşal]] [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk|Mustafa Kemal Pasha]] (center), the president of Turkey with other generals of the [[Turkish Armed Forces]] in 1925.|220x220px]]

===Turkey===
The [[president of Turkey]] has the constitutional right to represent the Supreme Military Command of the [[Turkish Armed Forces]], on behalf of the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]], and to decide on the mobilization of the Turkish Armed Forces, to appoint the chief of the general staff, to call the [[National Security Council (Turkey)|National Security Council]] to meet, to preside over the National Security Council, to proclaim martial law or state of emergency, and to issue decrees having the force of law, upon a decision of the Council of Ministers meeting under his/her chairmanship. With all these issues above written in the [[Constitution of Turkey]], the executive rights are given to the president of the Republic of Turkey to be represented as the commander-in-chief of the nation.

===Ukraine===
The [[President of Ukraine]] is the constitutional {{ill|Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine|uk|Верховний Головнокомандувач Збройних сил України|vertical-align=sup}} empowered by Article 106, paragraph 17 of the Ukrainian Constitution, the president has the ability to submit a declaration of war to the parliament and issue commands to the army and military formations. 

the title of [[Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine|commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine]] is held by the highest-ranking military officer (i.e. the [[chief of defence]]) this position is subordinate to that of the president.

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Head of the British Armed Forces}}
The [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] is the "[[Head of the British Armed Forces]]"<ref>[http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/ArmedForces/QueenandtheArmedForces.aspx Queen and Armed Forces], royal.gov.uk. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413003953/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/ArmedForces/QueenandtheArmedForces.aspx |date=13 April 2015 }}</ref> and has also been described as "Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces" and by law and convention is the Supreme Commanding Authority of the British Armed Forces, in practicality the monarch acts on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and [[Secretary of State for Defence]], who make the decisions on the use of the armed forces, with routine administration of the armed forces is delegated to the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]] which is chaired by the [[Secretary of State for Defence]].<ref>[http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN03861/SN03861.pdf The Royal Prerogative SN/PC/03861], [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]]. Retrieved on 12 May 2013.</ref> The King, however, remains the focal point of "ultimate authority" of the military, with officers and personnel swearing [[allegiance]] only to the monarch, and commissions to officers being issued by the monarch amongst other functions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7758314.stm|title=Whose hand is on the button?|access-date=14 March 2009|date=2 December 2008|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

The term is also sometimes used for the military commander-in-chief of a ''command'' (a region of military authority, sometimes combined with the civil office of [[Governor#British Empire and Commonwealth Realm|Governor]] of a colony (now called a [[British Overseas Territory]])), and for the naval commander-in-chief of a ''station'' of the Royal Navy, such as the [[North America and West Indies Station]].

===United States===
{{main|Powers of the president of the United States#Commander-in-chief}}
[[File:Barack Obama and generals saluting U.S. personnel who died in Afghanistan.jpg|thumb|U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] in his capacity as commander-in-chief, salutes the caskets of 18 individual soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 2009.]]
According to [[Opinion Clause|Article II, Section 2, Clause I of the Constitution]], the [[president of the United States]] is "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the [[militia]] of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States."<ref>Joseph G. Dawson, ed. ''Commanders in Chief: Presidential Leadership in Modern Wars'' (1993)</ref> There have been 45 [[List of presidents of the United States|presidents of the United States]] (counting [[Grover Cleveland]] and [[Donald Trump]] once), but there have been 47 [[Powers of the president of the United States|commanders-in-chief of the United States]] due to the fact that [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Kamala Harris]] each temporarily held the position of [[Acting President of the United States|acting president]] under the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Twenty-fifth Amendment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Kate |date=2021-11-19 |title=For 85 minutes, Kamala Harris became the first woman with presidential power |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/19/politics/kamala-harris-presidential-power/index.html |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> ([[George H. W. Bush]] was also temporarily acting president but later was elected president.) Since the National Security Act of 1947, the commander-in-chief provision has been understood to mean all [[United States Armed Forces]]. U.S. ranks have their roots in British military traditions, with the president possessing ultimate authority, but no rank, maintaining a civilian status.<ref>Matthew Moten, ''Presidents and Their Generals: An American History of Command in War'' (2014)</ref>
The exact degree of authority that the Constitution grants to the president as commander-in-chief has been the subject of much debate throughout history, with Congress at various times granting the president wide authority and at others attempting to restrict that authority.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/articles/article-ii/commander-in-chief-clause-ramsey-and-vladeck/clause/25|title=Common Interpretation: Commander in Chief Clause |last1=Ramsey|first1=Michael|last2=Vladeck|first2=Stephen |website=National Constitution Center Educational Resources (some internal navigation required) |publisher=National Constitution Center |access-date=23 May 2017}}</ref>

====U.S. States====
In U.S. States, the [[Governor (United States)|governor]] also serves as the commander-in-chief of the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]], [[State Militia]], and [[State Defense Forces]]. In the [[Commonwealth of Kentucky]], for example, [[Kentucky Revised Statutes|KRS]] 37.180<ref>[http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Statutes/statute.aspx?id=21508 Governor is commander in chief -- Adjutant general is executive officer.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910194025/http://www.lrc.ky.gov/statutes/statute.aspx?id=21508 |date=10 September 2015 }}, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.</ref> states:

{{Cquote|The Governor shall be commander in chief of the Kentucky active militia, and the adjutant general shall be the executive officer and shall be responsible to the Governor for the proper functioning of the Kentucky active militia, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to take necessary action to perfect and maintain an efficient organization for the purposes herein set out. He shall have charge of all matters of administration and organization, which shall be in all respects, insofar as necessary and applicable, the same as that of the National Guard.}}

Similarly, Section 140 of Article 2 of the California Military and Veterans Code states:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=MVC&sectionNum=140.|title=Law section|website=Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov|access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref>

{{Cquote|The Governor is commander in chief of a militia that shall be provided by statute. The Governor may call it forth to execute the law.}}

===Uzbekistan===
The [[President of Uzbekistan|Uzbek president]] holds the constitutional position of Supreme Commander of the [[Armed Forces of Uzbekistan]], according to the [[Constitution of Uzbekistan]]. In this capacity, the president give decisions on declaring war or martial law, the appointment of senior officials, and the development of the armed forces. In the event of an attack on the republic, the president announce a state of war and will submit within 72 hours a resolution for a plan of action to the [[Oliy Majlis]]. When the country is in a wartime situation, the [[Ministry of Defense (Uzbekistan)|minister of defense]] will serve in an official capacity as the deputy supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces, essentially assisting the president in his day-to-day activities and decisions regarding national security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lex.uz/acts/107702|title=LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN : ON INTRODUCING AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN "ON DEFENSE"|website=Lex.uz|access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref>

===Venezuela===
[[File:Operema.jpg|thumb|[[Hugo Chavez]], the president of Venezuela, dressed in military uniform in August 2006.]]
According to the Venezuelan constitution, the president is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The office of the Venezuelan military supreme commander in chief has always been held by the president of Venezuela as per constitutional requirements. However, with a new law sanctioned in 2008, the "comandante en jefe" rank is not only a function attributed to the executive branch but a full military rank given to the president upon taking office. Upon assumption he receives a saber, epaulette, shoulder knot, shoulder board and sleeve insignia and full military uniform to be used in military events while performing the duties as president. The shoulder insignia mirrors Cuban practice but is derived from the German-styled officer rank insignia.

===Vietnam===
The commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the [[president of Vietnam]], through his post as chairman of National Defense and Security Council. Though this position is nominal and real power is assumed by the [[Central Military Commission (Vietnam)|Central Military Commission]] of the [[Communist Party of Vietnam]]. The secretary of Central Military Commission  ([[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam|general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam]] ''ex officio'') is the ''de facto'' commander-in-chief.

The [[Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)|minister of Defence]] oversees operations of the Ministry of Defence, and the [[Vietnam People's Army]]. He also oversees such agencies as the [[General Staff (Vietnam People's Army)|General Staff]] and the General Logistics Department. However, military policy is ultimately directed by the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.

==Other officeholders as commanders-in-chief or other situations==

===Armenia===
The [[Prime Minister of Armenia|prime minister of Armenia]] holds the title of Supreme Commander in Chief of the [[Armenian Armed Forces]] ({{Langx|hy|Հայաստանի Զինված ուժերի գերագույն հրամանատար}}). The hereditary title and rank of ''[[Sparapet]]''' ({{langx|hy|սպարապետ}}) was a used to describe the supreme commander of the military forces of ancient and medieval [[Armenia]]. Since its introduction in the 2nd century BC, it is often used today to describe famous and high-ranking military officials. Notable Armenians to have held the title include [[Garegin Nzhdeh]], the supreme commander of the [[Republic of Mountainous Armenia]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=hy:Նժդեհ Գարեգին|url=http://www.encyclopedia.am/pages.php?bId=2&hId=1285|website=Encyclopedia.am|publisher=[[Armenian Encyclopedia Publishing]]|language=hy|access-date=11 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213143320/http://www.encyclopedia.am/pages.php?bId=2&hId=1285|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Vazgen Sargsyan]], the two-time [[Defense Minister of Armenia|defense minister of Armenia]] and prime minister in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vazgen Sargsyan|url=http://gov.am/en/prime-ministers/info/90|publisher=Government of Armenia|access-date=11 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620041228/http://gov.am/en/prime-ministers/info/90|archive-date=20 June 2014}}</ref>

===China===
Article 93 of the [[Constitution of the People's Republic of China]] states the authority to direct the armed forces is invested to the [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China]]. The same article also states that the [[Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)|chairman of the Central Military Commission]] assumes overall responsibility for the work of the Central Military Commission and that it is responsible to the [[National People's Congress]] and its [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress|Standing Committee]].<ref name="PRC Constitution">{{cite web |title=Constitution |url=http://english.gov.cn/2005-08/05/content_20813.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726154413/http://english.gov.cn/2005-08/05/content_20813.htm |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=21 January 2014 |publisher=[[Government of the People's Republic of China]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> There is also the [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party]] under the authority of the [[Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|Party Central Committee]]. In practice, both commissions have identitical membership, except for a brief period between the [[National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|Party Congress]] and the [[National People's Congress]], and are practically the same institutution under the system of "[[One institution with two names|one institution, two names]]".

Furthermore, Article 80 gives the [[president of the People's Republic of China]] (in addition to ceremonial [[head of state]] duties) the power to proclaim martial law, proclaim a state of war, and to issue mobilisation orders upon the decision of National People's Congress and its Standing Committee.<ref name="PRC Constitution"/>

The state president and the CMC chairman are distinctly separate state offices and they have not always been held by the same persons. However, beginning in 1993, during the tenure of [[Jiang Zemin]] as [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|General Secretary of the Communist Party]] and CMC chairman, it has been standard practice to have the offices of the CCP general secretary, president, and the CMC chairman to be [[Paramount leader|normally held by the same person]]; although the slight differences in the start and end of terms for those respective offices means that there is some overlap between an occupant and his predecessor.

====Hong Kong====
When [[Hong Kong]] was [[British Hong Kong|under British authority]], the [[Governor of Hong Kong|civilian governor]] was the ''ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the [[British Forces Overseas Hong Kong]]. After the territory's [[transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|handover]] to the People's Republic of China in 1997, the commanders of the [[People's Liberation Army]] [[Hong Kong Garrison]] are PLA personnel from [[mainland China]] and commanded by the CMC.

===Ethiopia===
The [[1995 Constitution of Ethiopia|1995 Constitution]] designates the [[Prime Minister of Ethiopia|prime minister of Ethiopia]] as "Commander-in-Chief of the [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|national armed forces]]" in Article 74(1).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hofethiopia.gov.et/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=13311&folderId=94921&name=DLFE-322.pdf | title = Constitution of Ethiopia | publisher = [[House of Federation]] | access-date = 21 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202124130/http://www.hofethiopia.gov.et/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=13311&folderId=94921&name=DLFE-322.pdf | archive-date = 2 February 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Germany===
; Federal Republic of Germany (1956–present)
{{Multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=250
| image1 = Boris Pistorius (2019) (cropped).jpg
| image2 = 2021-09-12 Politik, TV-Triell Bundestagswahl 2021 1DX 3801 by Stepro (cropped).jpg
| footer = Currently, [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Federal Minister of Defence]] [[Boris Pistorius]] ''(left)'' and [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Olaf Scholz]] ''(right)''.
}}
[[File:Bundeswehr Reichstag Dem Deutschen Volke.jpg|thumb|right|New recruits standing in front of the [[Reichstag building]], before taking the [[Ceremonial oath of the Bundeswehr|Bundeswehr oath]]. In the light of [[German militarism]] and due to its [[Nazi Germany|infamous history of the 20th century]]; Germany of today puts a strong emphasis on having armed forces compatible with a [[parliamentary system]].]] 
Upon the re-militarization of [[West Germany]] in 1955, when it joined [[NATO]], the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]] was amended in 1956 to include constitutional provisions for the command of the armed forces.
* In peacetime, under Article 65a, the [[Federal Minister of Defence (Germany)|federal minister of defence]] ({{Langx|de|Bundesminister der Verteidigung}}) holds the supreme command authority ({{Langx|de|Inhaber der Befehls- und Kommandogewalt - IBuK}}) over the {{lang|de|[[Bundeswehr]]}}.<ref name="germany">[https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany], [[Bundestag]] (Print version. As at: October 2010). Retrieved on 21 August 2013.</ref>
* If the [[Bundestag]] declares the [[State of Defence (Germany)|state of defence]] ({{Langx|de|Verteidigungsfall}}), the [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic)|Federal Chancellor]], under Article 115b, assumes the command authority over the armed forces.<ref name="germany"/> {{As of|2023}}, this has never happened.
* The [[president of Germany]] has thus no role in the command of the forces, although he continues to receive the ceremonial honors due to his position as a [[head of state]].

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-C13029, Nürnberg, Reichsparteitag, von Blomberg, Hitler.jpg|thumb|right|[[Werner von Blomberg]] (left) saluting [[Adolf Hitler]] (right) with a [[Baton (symbol)|baton]] at the 1937 [[Nuremberg Rally]].]]
Placing the command authority over the armed forces directly with the responsible minister in charge of the military establishment breaks with the longstanding German constitutional tradition in both earlier monarchical and republican systems of placing it with the [[head of state]]. The rationale was that in a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[parliamentary system]] the command authority should directly reside where it would be exercised and where it is subject to the parliamentary control of the [[Bundestag]] at all times. By assigning it directly to the responsible minister, instead of with the Federal Chancellor, this also meant that military affairs is but one of the many integrated responsibilities of the [[Cabinet of Germany|government]]; in stark contrast of earlier times when the separate division of the military establishment from the civil administration allowed the former to act as a [[state within a state]] (in contrast to the Federal Republic, the [[Weimar Republic]] began with the [[Ebert–Groener pact]], which kept the military establishment as an autonomous force outside the control of politics; the [[1925 German presidential election|1925 election]] of [[Paul von Hindenburg]] as ''[[President of Germany (1919–1945)|Reichspräsident]]'', surrounded by his [[camarilla]] and the machinations of [[Kurt von Schleicher]], did little to reverse the trend).<ref>{{in lang|de}} [http://www.deutsches-wehrrecht.de/Aufsaetze/UBWV_2004_241.pdf Die Befehls- und Kommandogewalt des Art. 65a GG im Lichte ...] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213958/http://www.deutsches-wehrrecht.de/Aufsaetze/UBWV_2004_241.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }}, Retrieved on 21 August 2013.</ref><ref>{{in lang|de}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=7tRyJy-An1MC Politik und Militär in Deutschland: die Bundespräsidenten und Bundeskanzler und ihre Beziehung zu Soldatentum und Bundeswehr], 2011. Retrieved on 21 August 2013.</ref>

; East Germany (1960–1990)
The [[legislature]] of the [[German Democratic Republic]] (GDR), the ''[[Volkskammer]]'', enacted on 13 February 1960 the ''Law on the Formation of the National Defense Council of the GDR'', which established a council consisting of a chairman and at least 12 members. This was later incorporated into the [[Constitution of the German Democratic Republic|GDR Constitution]] in April 1968. The [[National Defense Council of the GDR|National Defense Council]] held the supreme command of the [[National People's Army]] (including the internal security forces), and the council's chairman (usually the [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany#General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the SED|General Secretary]] of the ruling [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany|Socialist Unity Party]]) was considered the GDR's commander-in-chief.

The GDR joined with the [[Federal Republic of Germany]] on [[German Unity Day|3 October 1990]], upon which the GDR's constitution and armed forces were abolished.

; German Reich (1871–1945)
During the [[Kingdom of Prussia]], [[German Empire]], [[Weimar Republic]] and the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi era]], whoever was the [[head of state]]—the [[king of Prussia]]/[[German Emperor|German emperor]] (under the [[Constitution of Prussia (1850)|Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia]]/[[Constitution of the German Empire]]) to 1918, the [[President of Germany (1919–1945)|Reichspräsident]] (under the [[Weimar Constitution]]) to 1934, and the [[Führer]] from 1934 to 1945—was the head of the Armed Forces ({{langx|de|Oberbefehlshaber}}: literally "Possessor of highest command").

Below the level of the head of state, each [[military branch]] ({{langx|de|Teilstreitkraft}}) had its own head who reported directly to the head of state and held the highest rank in his service; in the [[Reichswehr|Reichsheer]] - {{Lang|de|[[Generalfeldmarschall]]|italic=no}}, and in the [[Reichsmarine]] - [[Großadmiral|Grossadmiral]].

After Chancellor [[Adolf Hitler]] assumed power as ''Führer''<ref name="German 1934 law">[http://www.documentarchiv.de/ns/stobrhpt.html Gesetz über das Staatsoberhaupt des Deutschen Reichs], 1 August 1934:<br />"§ 1 The office of the Reichspräsident is merged with that of the Reichskanzler. Therefore, the previous rights of the Reichspräsident pass over to the Führer and Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler. He names his deputy."</ref> (after the death of President [[Paul von Hindenburg]]), he would later grant his war minister, {{Lang|de|[[Generalfeldmarschall]]|italic=no}} [[Werner von Blomberg]], the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in 1935, when conscription was reintroduced. However, in 1938 due to the [[Blomberg–Fritsch Affair]], Hitler withdrew the commander-in-chief title, abolished the war ministerial post and assumed personal command of the Armed Forces. The war ministerial post was de facto overtaken by the ''[[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]]'', which was headed by {{Lang|de|Generalfeldmarschall|italic=no}} [[Wilhelm Keitel]] until the [[German Instrument of Surrender|German surrender]].

===Greece===
According to Article 45 of the [[Constitution of Greece|Greek Constitution]], the [[President of Greece|president]] is the head of the [[Greek Armed Forces]], but their administration is exercised by the [[Government of Greece|government]].<ref>[http://www.presidency.gr/?page_id=6105#45] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235832/http://www.presidency.gr/?page_id=6105#45|date=27 December 2017}}</ref> The [[Prime Minister of Greece|prime minister]], the [[Minister for National Defence (Greece)|minister for national defence]] and the [[Hellenic National Defence General Staff|chief of the general staff]] are the ones who command the [[Greek Armed Forces|Armed Forces]].

===Iraq===
In pre-[[Iraq war|war]] Iraq, the commander-in-chief was the head of state, i.e. the president. In the current [[Constitution of Iraq|constitution]], the commander-in-chief of the [[Iraqi Armed Forces]] is the [[Prime minister of Iraq|prime minister]], and the [[President of Iraq|president]] only retains a ceremonial and honorary role of awarding medals and decorations on the recommendation of the commander-in-chief.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005|title=Constitution of Iraq (articles 73 and 78)|publisher=}}</ref>

===Israel===
In [[Israel]], the [[Basic Laws of Israel|applicable basic law]] states that the ultimate authority over the [[Israel Defense Forces]] rests with the [[Cabinet of Israel|Government of Israel]] (chaired by the [[Prime Minister of Israel|prime minister]]) as a collective body. The authority of the government is exercised by the [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|minister of defense]] on behalf of the Government. However, the commander-in-chief of the IDF is the [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|chief of general staff]] who, despite being subordinate to the minister of defense, holds the highest level of command within the military.<ref name="israel bl military">[https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic11_eng.htm Basic Law of Israel: The Military], [[Knesset]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2011.</ref>

===Japan===
In [[Japan]], prior to the [[Meiji Restoration]] the role of the commander-in-chief was vested in the ''[[shōgun]]'' (the most militarily powerful [[samurai]] ''[[daimyō]]''). After the dissolution of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], the role of the commander-in-chief resided with the [[Emperor of Japan]]. The present-day [[Constitution of Japan|constitutional]] role of the emperor is that of a ceremonial [[figurehead]] (Japanese Constitution calls it symbol) without any military role.

After Japan's move towards democracy, the position of commander-in-chief of the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces]] is held by the [[Prime Minister of Japan|prime minister of Japan]]. Military authority runs from the prime minister to the cabinet-level [[Minister of Defense (Japan)|minister of defense]] of the [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Japanese Ministry of Defense]].<ref name="enc">{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Self Defense Forces |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=15 July 2012 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |oclc=56431036 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=25 August 2007 }}</ref><ref name="reorg">{{cite book | url = https://www.mod.go.jp/e/about/organization/reorganized/p4-5.pdf | title = The Ministry of Defense Reorganized: For the Support of Peace and Security | year = 2007 | publisher = Japan Ministry of Defense | location = Tokyo | pages = 4–5 | access-date = 10 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190412080502/https://www.mod.go.jp/e/about/organization/reorganized/p4-5.pdf | archive-date = 12 April 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="職種　Branches of Service">{{cite web | url = https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/about/branches/index.html | title = 職種 Branches of Service | year = 2012 | publisher = Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | location = Tokyo | language = ja | access-date = 15 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="n-soshiki">{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) |script-title=ja:自衛隊: 組織 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=15 July 2012 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |trans-title=JSDF: Organization |oclc=153301537 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=25 August 2007 }}</ref>

===Malta===
The Malta Armed Forces Act does not directly establish the [[president of Malta]] as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. However, Maltese law allows the president to raise by voluntary enlistment and maintain an armed force. Likewise, the law allows the president to issue orders in order to the administrate the armed forces.

The Armed Forces do not swear allegiance to the president of Malta, but rather to the [[Malta|Republic of Malta]]. On this basis, there is no direct link between the head of state and the armed forces. For this reason, this link is mediated by the minister responsible for defence.

Nonetheless, the Presidential Palaces are guarded by the Armed Forces as a symbolic gesture of social cohesion.

===Myanmar===
[[File:Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (Myanmar).svg|thumb|5-stars Flag-Insignia of Commander-in-Chief of [[Tatmadaw]]]]
In [[Myanmar]], the [[Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services]] ([[Tatmadaw]]) is the [[commanding officer]] national military, a position vested in a military officer, not the [[President of Myanmar|president]]. The commander-in-chief is, however, a member of the [[National Defence and Security Council]] and reports to the president. The commander-in-chief is assisted in his/her role by the [[Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services]].

===Netherlands===
[[File:Onderscheidingsvlag Minister van Defensie (2023).svg|thumb|Flag of the minister of defense, the primary responsible official]]
The [[Constitution of the Netherlands]] states, in article 97, that "''the Government shall have supreme authority over the [[Armed forces of the Netherlands|armed forces]]''". Article 42 defines the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|Government]] as the [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Monarch]] and the ministers, and that only ministers are responsible for acts of government. Article 45 further defines the ministers as constituting the [[Council of Ministers of the Netherlands|Cabinet]], chaired by the [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|prime minister]], with "authority to decide upon overall government policy".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.government.nl/files/documents-and-publications/regulations/2012/10/18/the-constitution-of-the-kingdom-of-the-netherlands-2008/the-constitution-of-the-kingdom-of-the-netherlands-2008.pdf | title = The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 2008 | publisher = [[Government of the Netherlands]] | access-date = 10 February 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Besselink"/>

Before the constitution change in 1983, the equivalent section stated that: "''The King shall have supreme authority over the armed forces''". Nevertheless, the role of the monarch as commander in chief was ceremonial as in most European constitutional monarchies.<ref name="Besselink">{{cite tech report |first= Leonard F.M. |last= Besselink |title= The Legal And Constitutional Position of the Netherlands Armed Forces and International Military Cooperation |institution= Universiteit Utrecht |url=http://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/214157/The%20Netherlands%20report%20%5bsecured%5d.pdf?sequence=1 |year= 2011 }}</ref> As a consequence of being only part of the government, monarchs of the Netherlands do not hold a military rank. The current king of the Netherlands [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]] resigned from his military ranks (equivalent to one-star general in all branches) upon becoming king in 2013. He has been provided with [[Military ranks of the Netherlands armed forces#Royal insignia|royal insignia]] to show his lasting commitment to the armed forces, but these represent no formal rank.

The [[Minister of Defence (Netherlands)|minister of defence]] has the primary ministerial responsibility for the armed forces, which are formally a part of the [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name="Besselink"/> The [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|chief of defence]] is the highest ranked professional military officer, and serves as an intermediary between the minister of defence and the Armed Forces, and is responsible to the minister for military-strategic planning, operations and deployment of the Armed Forces.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.defensie.nl/english/organisation/ministry_of_defence/organisation_chart/ | title = Organisation chart | publisher = [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence]] | access-date = 10 February 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131101185127/http://www.defensie.nl/english/organisation/ministry_of_defence/organisation_chart/ | archive-date = 1 November 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===North Korea===
[[File:Standard of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.svg|thumb|Flag of the supreme commander of North Korea (2002–2020)]]
Article 47 of the [[Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea]] stipulates that the Korean People's Army is "Revolutionary Armed Forces of the [[Workers' Party of Korea]]" and "[[Korean People's Army]] conducts all military and political activities under the leadership of the Party." Article 30 invests commanding authority to the [[Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea|Party Central Military Commission]], whose ''ex officio'' chair is the [[General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=National Intelligence Agency |title=北韓法令集.上 :2022.10 |year=2022 |location=Seoul |pages=54–70 |language=ko |trans-title=North Korean Laws, Vol. 1, October 2022}}</ref>

Article 103 of the [[Constitution of North Korea]] designates the [[President of the State Affairs of North Korea|President of the State Affairs Commission]], as the country's head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.<ref>Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (2023) art. 103 (in Korean).</ref>

Currently both offices are occupied by [[Kim Jong Un]]. Since 2018, he started issuing orders in the name of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, instead of the Supreme Commander.

===Sweden===
[[File:Swedishkingandprince.jpg|thumb|The Swedish monarch ([[Carl XVI Gustaf|King Carl XVI Gustaf]]) is no longer the commander-in-chief of the [[Swedish Armed Forces]], although he continues to receive treatment befitting a [[head of state]].]]
In Sweden, with the [[Ordinance of Alsnö]] in 1280, [[Swedish nobility|nobles]] were exempted from land taxation if they provided cavalrymen to the king's service. Following the [[Swedish War of Liberation]] (1521–23) from the [[Kalmar Union]], a [[Svea Life Guards|Guards Regiment]] was formed under the King and from there the modern [[Swedish Army]] has its roots. During the age of the [[Swedish Empire]], several kings—[[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus the Great]], [[Charles X of Sweden|Charles X Gustav]], [[Charles XI of Sweden|Charles XI]] & [[Charles XII of Sweden|Charles XII]]—personally led their forces into battle. Under the [[Instrument of Government (1809)|Instrument of Government of 1809]], which was in force until the current [[Constitution of Sweden|Instrument of Government of 1974]] went into force on 1 January 1975; the [[Monarch of Sweden|monarch]] was in §§ 14-15 explicitly designated as the commander-in-chief of the [[Swedish Armed Forces]] ({{langx|sv|Högste befälhavare}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sns.se/zino.aspx?articleID=839 |title=Regeringsformen 1809 med ändringar 1809-1974 |publisher=Studieförbundet Näringsliv och Samhälle |language=sv |access-date=10 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831012655/http://www.sns.se/zino.aspx?articleID=839 |archive-date=31 August 2010 }}</ref>

At present, the [[Government of Sweden|Government]] ({{langx|sv|Regeringen}}) as a collective body, chaired and formed by the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|prime minister of Sweden]], holds the highest [[Executive (government)|Executive Authority]], subject to the will of the [[Riksdag of Sweden|Riksdag]]; and is thus the present day closest equivalent of a command-in-chief, although not explicitly designated as such.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | title = The Instrument of Government | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 10 February 2014 }}</ref> The reason for this change was, apart from the fact that the king was since 1917 no longer expected to make political decisions without ministerial advice, that the new Instrument of Government was intended to be made as descriptive on the workings of the State as possible, and reflective on how decisions are actually made. [[Minister of Justice (Sweden)|Minister of Justice]] [[Lennart Geijer]] further remarked in the government bill that any continued pretensions of royal involvement in government decisions would be of a "fictitious nature" and "highly unsatisfactory".<ref>{{in lang|sv}} Prop. 1973:90. Kungl. Maj:ts proposition med förslag till ny regeringsform och ny riksdagsordning m. m.; given Stockholms slott den 16 mars 1973. p. 172-175.</ref>

Certain government decisions regarding the Armed Forces ({{langx|sv|Särskilda regeringsbeslut}}) may be delegated to the [[Minister for Defence (Sweden)|minister for defence]], under the supervision of the prime minister and to the extent laid down in ordinances.<ref>[http://www.regeringen.se/download/3ad453a6.pdf?major=1&minor=213481&cn=attachmentPublDuplicator_0_attachment] {{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

To add to some confusion to the above, the title of the agency head of the [[Swedish Armed Forces]] and highest ranked commissioned officer on active duty, is actually the [[Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces|supreme commander of the Swedish Armed Forces]] ({{langx|sv|Överbefälhavaren}}).<ref>[http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/About-the-Armed-Forces/ About the Armed Forces], [[Swedish Armed Forces]]. Retrieved on 12 May 2013.</ref>

However, the Monarch (as of present [[Carl XVI Gustaf|King Carl XVI Gustaf]]), is still a four-star general and admiral ''[[à la suite]]'' in the [[Swedish Army]], [[Swedish Navy|Navy]] and [[Swedish Air Force|Air Force]] and is by unwritten convention regarded as the foremost head and representative of the Swedish Armed Forces.<ref>[http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html Duties of the Monarch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316041821/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html |date=16 March 2015 }}, [[Royal Court of Sweden]]. Retrieved on 12 May 2013.</ref> The king has, as part of his [[Royal Household|court]], a [[Staff (military)|military staff]]. The military staff is headed by a senior officer (usually a general or admiral, retired from active service) and is composed of active duty military officers serving as [[Aide-de-camp|aides]] to the king and his family.<ref>{{in lang|sv}} [http://www.kungahuset.se/hovstaterna/hovstaternasorganisation/ovrigafunktioner.4.19ae4931022afdcff3800017274.html Övriga funktioner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602045554/http://www.kungahuset.se/hovstaterna/hovstaternasorganisation/ovrigafunktioner.4.19ae4931022afdcff3800017274.html |date=2 June 2013 }}, Royal Court of Sweden. Retrieved on 12 May 2013.</ref>

===Switzerland===
[[File:CHE OF9 General.svg|thumb|150px|upright|The [[epaulette|epaulet]] for the wartime-only '''office''' ''and'' '''rank''' of [[General (Switzerland)|General]].]]

Supreme authority over the military belongs to the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]], which is the Swiss collegial [[head of state]]. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, under the [[Constitution of Switzerland|Constitution]], the Federal Council can only, in the operational sense, command a maximum of 4,000 soldiers, with a time limit of three weeks of mobilisation.<ref name="Swiss Security Sector" /> For it to field more service personnel, the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]] must elect a [[General (Switzerland)|General]]<ref name="Swiss Security Sector">[http://www.dcaf.ch/news/past_2002/ev_macedonia_Haltiner.pdf] {{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> who is given four stars.<ref name="mcphee19831031">{{cite news | url=http://archives.newyorker.com/default.aspx?iid=16248&startpage=page0000103#folio=050 | title=La Place de la Concorde Suisse-I | magazine=The New Yorker | date=31 October 1983 | access-date=22 July 2013 | author=McPhee, John | page=50}}</ref> Thus, the General is elected by the Federal Assembly to give him the same democratic legitimacy as the Federal Council.<ref name="Swiss Security Sector" />

In peacetime, the [[Swiss Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] are led by the [[Chief of the Armed Forces (Switzerland)|Chief of the Armed Forces]] (''Chef der Armee''), who reports to the head of the [[Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports]] and to the Federal Council as a whole. The Chief of the Armed Forces has the rank of ''Korpskommandant'' or ''Commandant de corps'' ([[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers|OF-8]] in [[NATO]] equivalence).

In a time of declared war or national emergency, however, the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]], assembled as the [[United Federal Assembly]], specifically for the purpose of taking on the [[Theater (warfare)|war-time responsibilities]] elect a [[General (Switzerland)|General]] as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces under Article 168 of the Constitution. Whilst the General acts as the highest military authority with a high degree of autonomy, he is still subordinate to the Federal Council (See Articles 58, 60, 174, 177, 180 & 185).<ref>[http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/rs/1/101.en.pdf Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation (English translation)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418001954/http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/rs/1/101.en.pdf |date=18 April 2015 }} (as of March 2012), The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation. Retrieved on 21 August 2013.</ref> The Federal Assembly retains the sole power to dismiss the General, but the General remains subordinate to the Federal Council by the council's ability to demobilise, thereby making the position of General redundant.<ref name="Swiss Security Sector" />

Four generals were appointed in Swiss history, General [[Henri Dufour]] during the [[Sonderbund|Swiss Civil War]], General [[Hans Herzog]] during the [[Franco-Prussian War]], General [[Ulrich Wille]] during the [[First World War]], and General [[Henri Guisan]] during the [[Second World War]] ("''la Mob''", "the [[Mobilisation]]"). Although Switzerland remained neutral during the latter three conflicts, the threat of having its territory used as a battlefield by the much bigger war parties of Germany and France required mobilization of the army.

==See also==
Within [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]], the term [[chief of defence|Chief of Defence]] (CHOD) is usually used as a generic term for the highest-ranked office held by a professional military officer on active duty, irrespective of their actual title or powers.<ref>[http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/who_is_who_51447.htm NATO Chiefs of Defence]. Nato.int, Retrieved on 12 May 2013.</ref>

* [[Caesarism]]
* [[Civilian control of the military]]
* [[Command and control]]
* [[Commanding officer]]
* [[Deep state]] (state within a state)
* [[Defence minister]]
* [[Generalissimo]]
* [[Magister militum]]
* [[Militarism]]
* [[Military junta]]
* [[Praetorianism]]
* [[Strongman (politics)]]
* [[Supreme Commander (disambiguation)]]
* [[Warlord]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Highest Military Ranks}}
{{US military navbox}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Commander-In-Chief}}
[[Category:Commanders in chief| ]]
[[Category:Military organization]]
[[Category:Military sociology]]
[[Category:Military ranks]]