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Old 10-30-2009, 07:00 AM   #23 (permalink)
The_Dunedan
Junkie
 
Quote:
Since it specifically says they can form and maintain an army and navy, does that make the Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard unconstitutional?
Army: Yes. The ability to maintain a standing, professional Army was intentionally left out of the Constitution because the framers realized the danger such armies posed to individual and collective freedom. Large formations of infantry or other land-based soldiery were to be provided by the various Militias, with overall command going to their State Governors in time of peace, and to the President in time of declared war. Notice please how much more difficult it would be to start wars in other people's countries under such a system. Congress has the power to raise armies (nationalise the Militia) and support them during time of declared war, but the Constitution only authorises such support for a term of 2yrs. After the crisis was past, the naive hope of the Framers was that Congress would simply de-fund the thing, send the Militiamen home, and get back to business. Obviously this hope was misguided. I'd have preferred an outright prohibition on standing professional armies, personally.

Marines: No. The Marines are part of the Navy.

Coast Guard: Yes. The functions currently fulfilled by the CG are those originally intended for the peacetime Navy.

Air Force: Yes.

Last edited by The_Dunedan; 10-30-2009 at 07:11 AM..
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