No State Troops in Peace

                    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).