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II. State Finance: Constitution

By the eighth section of the first article of the Constitution of the United States, Congress is empowered in general to raise and support armies;" and by the second section of the second article, the President is appointed commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and of the militia when called into the service of the United States.

On August 7, 1789, Congress established a Department of War as the instrument of the President in carrying out the provisions of the Constitution for military affairs. By Acts of Congress approved July 28, 1866, March 3, 1869, and July 15, 1870, the number of land forces constituting the standing army of the United States was strictly limited. It was subsequently enacted that from the year 1875 there shall be no more than 25,000 enlisted men at any one time, exclusive of the signal corps, the authorized strength of which is 350 enlisted men, the hospital corps, the strength of which is 723 enlisted men, and of I25 general service clerks and 45 general service of 125 general service clerks and 45 general service messengers.