The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday
comes from Article I Section 10, Clause 3:
"No State shall without the Consent of Congress, … keep Troops, or
Ships of War in time of Peace."
This clause in the Constitution gave the responsibility and control of
the armed forces to Congress, particularly in determining the military strength
during a time of peace.
"The great fear of the Founders was the
threat represented by standing armies in the hands of ambitious
politicians. This provision gave the
Congress the power to intervene at any time if it saw a governor or military
leader in a state mobilizing a body of troops or building ships of war.
"It should be mentioned that the state
militia, which exists for the protection of the people and is made up of
non-professional civilians, is not considered to be `troops' within the meaning
of this clause" (W. Cleon Skousen in The
Making of America - The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution, p. 503).
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