United States Secretary of Defense

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/united-states-secretary-of-defense

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was United States Secretary of Defense built?1947
2. What is the civilian control mandate?Statutory requirement for civilian leadership, generally barring recent active-duty military service
3. What is the key collaborators?President, Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
4. What does the Secretary of Defense do?The Secretary of Defense is the boss of all U.S. military leaders, making sure the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard follow the President’s plans.
5. How is the Secretary of Defense chosen?The President picks a candidate and the Senate votes to approve them. This helps make sure the person is trustworthy and qualified.

Civilian Supremacy: The constitutional principle that elected civilians hold ultimate authority over the military.
Department of Defense (DoD): The executive department responsible for the U.S. military and its operations.
National Security Council: A principal forum for the President to consider national security and foreign policy matters with senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.