The Glorious Commander-in-Chief

Abstract

I examine the executive's power as Commander-in-Chief (or "CINC") of the armed forces, and the resulting problems for constitutional design and interpretation. Drawing upon Machiavelli's analysis, I attempt to state an economy of glory: an account of the benefits and costs of executive glory-seeking, and an account of how glory-seeking motivations on the part of the CINC can best be harnessed to the public interest. I then ask how the American national constitution should be interpreted in light of the economy of glory. I conclude that the optimal constitutional regime is one in which the executive is constrained in initiating conflicts, but not constrained in carrying them out.

Keywords: president, war powers, national security