Commander In Chief In Michigan

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In the heart of the Midwest lies the state of Michigan. A state that elects a governor every four years to be its chief executive, but the governor holds a dual role. The governor is also the state’s commander-in-chief of the National Guard. A role responsible for defining all aspects of civil-military relations in Michigan and preserving the state’s delicate balance between civilian oversight and military readiness at a moment’s notice (Michigan Army National Guard, 2024). As commander-in-chief, the governor’s role in civil-military relations is based on the legal framework created in the state’s initial constitution and has been expanded upon in every subsequent constitution, including the last adopted constitution of 1963 (Michigan Const., …show more content…
And finally, the third additional duty is to formulate a strategic plan to coordinate all parties in times of crisis or federalization of the National Guard by the President of the United States (Michigan Army National Guard, 2024). Furthermore, the origin of the governor’s role as commander-in-chief in civil-military relations goes beyond the Constitution. In fact, it predates Michigan’s statehood and starts with the state’s earliest French settlements of missionaries and fur traders. On these settlements, primarily composed of civilians, it became very clear early on that they would need to defend themselves against Indigenous American tribes. However, they would have to do so without an organized military, grounding the state’s foundation in civil-military relations (Dunbar & May, 1995). More so, the tradition of self-defense persisted after independence was achieved against Great Britain. Many of Michigan’s founders were veterans of the War of Independence, as they left their homes and came west to forge a fresh start out of the rugged territory of the Northwest Territory that formed what is today the state of …show more content…
However, the roles are best understood through the analytical lens of civil-military relations scholars like Samuel Huntington and Morris Janowitz. Concepts such as Huntington's theory of objective control (Huntington, 1957), which emphasizes the subordination of the military to civilian authority. A concept that is shared within Michigan's legal framework and grants the governor command over the National Guard. Similarly, Janowitz's theory of citizen-soldiership (Janowitz, 1964), which advocates for the integration of the military with civilian roles, and therefore aligning the role with the National Guard concept of Citizen Soldiers (Michigan Army National Guard, 2024). Ultimately, these theoretical frameworks not only provide analytical tools for understanding Michigan's civil-military relations, but they highlight the tensions found between the government and military professionals. Roles that are within the state’s National Guard and its significance in Michigan's civil-military relations cannot be overstated. With a dual mandate encompassing both state and federal