POLYAS Election Glossary

We provide explanations and background information on elections, voting rights and digital democracy

Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a group of senior military leaders in the US Department of Defense which provides military advice to the US President, the Defense Secretary, the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council. The group is lead by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is legally the highest ranking military officer in the US Armed Forces. The other positions  of the group are:

  • Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Chief of Staff of the Army
  • Commandant of the Marine Corps
  • Chief of Naval Operations
  • Chief of Staff of the Air Force
  • Chief of the National Guard Bureau

These individual positions are appointed by the US President and confirmed by the Senate. The Joint Chiefs of Staff do not, however, have operational command authority.

See also: US Senate, US Congress, Presidential Election


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