§ 816. Art. 16. Courts-martial classified

The three kinds of courts-martial in each of the armed forces are—

(1) general courts-martial, consisting of—

(A) a military judge and not less than five members or, in a case in which the accused may be sentenced to a penalty of death, the number of members determined under section 825a of this title (article 25a); or

(B) only a military judge, if before the court is assembled the accused, knowing the identity of the military judge and after consultation with defense counsel, requests orally on the record or in writing a court composed only of a military judge and the military judge approves;

(2) special courts-martial, consisting of—

(A) not less than three members; or

(B) a military judge and not less than three members; or

(C) only a military judge, if one has been detailed to the court, and the accused under the same conditions as those prescribed in clause (1)(B) so requests; and

(3) summary courts-martial, consisting of one commissioned officer.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 42; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(3), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1335; Pub. L. 98–209, § 3(a), Dec. 6, 1983, 97 Stat. 1394; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 582(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1124.)

Historical And Revision

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
816	50:576.	May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 16), 64 Stat. 113.

The word “The” is substituted for the words “There shall be”. The word “are” is substituted for the word “namely”. The words “not less than five members” are substituted for the words “any number of members not less than five”. The words “not less than three members” are substituted for the words “any number of members not less than three”. The word “commissioned” is inserted before the word “officer” in clause (3) for clarity.

Amendments

Amendments

2001—Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 107–107 inserted “or, in a case in which the accused may be sentenced to a penalty of death, the number of members determined under section 825a of this title (article 25a)” after “five members”.

1983—Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 98–209 substituted “orally on the record or in writing” for “in writing”.

1968—Pub. L. 90–632 provided that a general or special court-martial shall consist of only a military judge if the accused, before the court is assembled, so requests in writing and the military judge approves, with the added requirements that the accused know the identity of the military judge and have the advice of counsel, and that the election be available in the case of a special court-martial only if a military judge has been detailed to the court.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 582(d), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1125, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting section 825a of this title and amending this section and section 829 of this title] shall apply with respect to offenses committed after December 31, 2002.”

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–209 effective first day of eighth calendar month beginning after Dec. 6, 1983, see section 12(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–209, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–632 effective first day of tenth month following October 1968, see section 4 of Pub. L. 90–632, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.