Lincoln's actions were vast and unprecedented (and unconstitutional). Lincoln was also the first to declare martial law (the temporary removal of power from the courts) and suspend habeas corpus (the right for a prisoner to petition the legality of his or her imprisonment). In 1861, while Congress was adjourned, he activated the military, sent troops to Southern states, ordered the Navy to blockade the port of New Orleans and appropriated funds from the Treasury. Perhaps no other president defined presidential wartime powers like Abraham Lincoln did. Like most other powers, the president's ability to wage and operate war evolved over time. All other U.S military action undertaken by the United States throughout its history has been under presidential order. But in the history of the United States, Congress has formally declared war just 11 times - against 10 countries that were involved in five different conflicts: the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War and the two World Wars. The Constitution gives Congress alone the power to declare war it charges the executive with carrying out the war as commander in chief. All of these actions share the commonality of being ordered by the president of the United States. The United States can commit troops to larger organizations of which it's a member, like NATO and the United Nations. military can strike from the air, as occurred against Iraq under President Bill Clinton in 1998 or the Special Forces invasion of Panama in 1989.

military involvement can be massive, like that in Vietnam and Korea. Wars can be indirectly prompted or unprompted, as with the U.S. Under the president's direction, the United States can carry out retaliatory invasions, such as the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. McNeill/Fox Photos/Getty ImagesĪrguably, the most solemn role of the president is to serve as the leader of the U.S.

President Dwight Eisenhower had an easy transition to the role of commander in chief he'd served as commander of the American Forces in the European theatre of World War II.

Commander in chief examples