Which Government Branch Commands the Military?

This might be a political question, but I was discussing this with my fellow classmates and I realized I'm not sure. Which branch of our government is primarily responsible for issuing commands to the military? I'm really curious about how the government and the military work together.

The branch of the U.S. government responsible for issuing commands to the military and oversees national defense is the Executive branch. The President of the United States has the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This responsibility means the president can, for example, authorize the use of troops overseas without declaring war.

However, the President's power isn't unlimited. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. Furthermore, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 mandates that in most cases, the president must obtain approval from Congress if military force is used beyond 60 days.

In a day-to-day, operational sense, the Secretary of Defense, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, oversees the Department of Defense, which includes all branches of the U.S. military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force.

So, while the President carries the title of Commander-in-chief, the actual command and management of the military involves a larger, more complex system of executive leadership and Congressional oversight.