<P> A head of state is often, by virtue of holding the highest executive powers, explicitly designated as the commander - in - chief of that nation's armed forces, holding the highest office in all military chains of command . </P> <P> In a constitutional monarchy or non-executive presidency, the head of state may de jure hold ultimate authority over the armed forces but will only normally, as per either written law or unwritten convention, exercise their authority on the advice of their responsible ministers: meaning that the de facto ultimate decision making on military maneuvers is made elsewhere . The head of state will, regardless of actual authority, perform ceremonial duties related to the country's armed forces, and will sometimes appear in military uniform for these purposes; particularly in monarchies where also the monarch's consort and other members of a royal family may also appear in military garb . This is generally the only time a head of state of a stable, democratic country will appear dressed in such a manner, as statesmen and public are eager to assert the primacy of (civilian, elected) politics over the armed forces . </P> <P> In military dictatorships, or governments which have arisen from coups d'état, the position of commander - in - chief is obvious, as all authority in such a government derives from the application of military force; occasionally a power vacuum created by war is filled by a head of state stepping beyond his or her normal constitutional role, as King Albert I of Belgium did during World War I. In these and in revolutionary regimes, the head of state, and often executive ministers whose offices are legally civilian, will frequently appear in military uniform . </P> <Dl> <Dd> <Dl> <Dd> Example 1 (parliamentary monarchy): Article III, Section 15 of the Constitution Act, 1867, a part of the Constitution of Canada, states: <Dl> <Dd> The Command - in - Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada, is hereby declared to continue to be vested in the Queen . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> <Dd> Example 2 (parliamentary monarchy): Article 25 of the Constitution of Norway states: <Dl> <Dd> The King is Commander - in - Chief of the land and naval forces of the Realm . These forces may not be increased or reduced without the consent of the Storting . They may not be transferred to the service of foreign powers, nor may the military forces of any foreign power, except auxiliary forces assisting against hostile attack, be brought into the Realm without the consent of the Storting . </Dd> <Dd> The territorial army and the other troops which cannot be classed as troops of the line must never, without the consent of the Storting, be employed outside the borders of the Realm . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> <Dd> Example 3 (parliamentary republic): Chapter II, Article 87, 4th section of the Constitution of Italy states: <Dl> <Dd> The President is the commander - in - chief of the armed forces, shall preside over the Supreme Council of Defense established by law, and shall make declarations of war as have been agreed by Parliament of Italy . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> <Dd> Example 4 (semi-presidential republic): Title II, Article 15 of the French Constitution of 1958 states: <Dl> <Dd> The President of the Republic shall be Commander - in - Chief of the Armed Forces . He shall preside over the higher national defence councils and committees . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> <Dd> Example 5 (semi-presidential republic): According to Chapter 4, Article 87, Section 1 of the Constitution of Russia: <Dl> <Dd> The President of the Russian Federation shall be the Supreme Commander - in - Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> <Dd> Example 6 (presidential republic): Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution states: <Dl> <Dd> The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> <Dd> Example 7 (executive monarchy): Article 65 of the Constitution of Qatar provides that: <Dl> <Dd> The Emir is the Commander - in - Chief of the armed forces . He shall supervise the same with the assistance of Defence Council under his direct authority . The said Council shall be constituted by an Emiri Resolution, which will also determine the functions thereof . </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> </Dl> </Dd> </Dl>

Governors act as head of state when they