U.S. Constitution · Article I, Section 8, Clause 12

Army Clause

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Also known as: Army Clause

Live in the VFA record

Cited in 2 SI Solutions and 23 grades this month.

75 public items cite this provision · 25 in October 2026 (last month: 0)

Citations per week, last 12 weeks

The text

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov

SI explainer

An explainer for this provision is in the queue. It appears here once it passes the SI Editorial Standard’s automated checks. The text, founding-era sources and live citations below are complete.

In the founders’ words

“In this respect his authority would be nominally the same with that of the king of Great Britain, but in substance much inferior to it. It would amount to nothing more than the supreme command and direction of the military and naval forces, as first General and admiral of the Confederacy; while that of the British king extends to the DECLARING of war and to the RAISING and REGULATING of fleets and armies, all which, by the Constitution under consideration, would appertain to the legislature.” Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 69 (1788-03-14)
“The authorities essential to the common defense are these: to raise armies; to build and equip fleets; to prescribe rules for the government of both; to direct their operations; to provide for their support. These powers ought to exist without limitation, BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORESEE OR DEFINE THE EXTENT AND VARIETY OF NATIONAL EXIGENCIES, OR THE CORRESPONDENT EXTENT AND VARIETY OF THE MEANS WHICH MAY BE NECESSARY TO SATISFY THEM” Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 23 (1787-12-18)
“The power to raise armies, is indefinite and unlimited, and authorises the raising forces, as well in peace as in war. Whether the clause which impowers the Congress to pass all laws which are proper and necessary, to carry this into execution, will not authorise them to impress men for the army, is a question well worthy consideration?” Brutus (attributed to Robert Yates), Brutus, No. 8 (1788-01-10)
“I see so many men in America fond of a standing army, and especially among those who probably will have a large share in administering the federal system; it is very evident to me, that we shall have a large standing army as soon as the monies to support them can be possibly found.” The Federal Farmer, Letters from the Federal Farmer, No. 3 (1787-10-10)
“A power to raise armies must be lodged some where; still this will not justify the lodging this power in a bare majority of so few men without any checks;” The Federal Farmer, Letters from the Federal Farmer, No. 3 (1787-10-10)
“This will not only lessen the call for military establishments, but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens.” Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 29 (1788-01-10)

Public-domain primary sources, quoted word for word and checked against the linked text.

Leading Supreme Court cases

Selective Draft Law Cases, 245 U.S. 366 (1918)
Rostker v. Goldberg, 453 U.S. 57 (1981)

Cited in the VFA record

“Where this provision is cited”

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Roll-call votes are listed when the measure voted on has a current Constitution Index grade citing this provision. Counts include only published items.

Cite this page

Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Article I, Section 8, Clause 12, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/article-1/section-8/clause-12

Data: this provision as JSON.

In the founders’ words

Leading Supreme Court cases

“Where this provision is cited”

SI Solutions (17)

grades (23)

roll-call votes (35)

Cite this page