The ''Manual for Courts-Martial'' (''MCM'') is the official guide to the conduct of
courts-martial
A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
in the
United States military
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is th ...
. An
Executive Order
In the United States, an executive order is a directive by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources. Article Two of t ...
of the
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
, the ''MCM'' details and expands on the
military law
Military justice (also military law) is the legal system (bodies of law and procedure) that governs the conduct of the active-duty personnel of the armed forces of a country. In some nation-states, civil law and military law are distinct bodie ...
established in the statute
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 801–946 is the foundation of military law in the United States. It was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitutio ...
(UCMJ). The ''MCM'' contains five parts plus 22 appendices:
*Part I is the Preamble, which gives background and
jurisdiction
Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels.
J ...
al information
*Part II explains the Rules for Courts-martial (Rules 101 through 1307)
*Part III lays out the Military Rules of Evidence (Rules 101 through 1103)
*Part IV sets forth the elements and punishments of offenses (Punitive Articles, paragraphs 101 through 108)
*Part V provides guidelines for the imposition of
non-judicial punishment
Non-judicial punishment (or NJP) is any form of punishment that may be applied to individual military personnel, without a need for a court martial or similar proceedings.
United States
In the United States Armed Forces, non-judicial punishment ...
(NJP)
*Appendices provide the
Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven articles, it delineates the natio ...
, the UCMJ itself, analysis of the Parts, historical
Executive Order
In the United States, an executive order is a directive by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources. Article Two of t ...
s, forms, etc.
In June 2019, the ''
Federal Register'' published the 2019 Manual for Courts-Martial with all recent changes.
See also
*
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals (AFCCA) is an independent appellate judicial body authorized by Congress and established by the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force pursuant to the exclusive authority under (a). The Court hears and ...
*
Army Court of Criminal Appeals
In the United States military, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals (ACCA) is an appellate court that reviews certain court martial convictions of Army personnel.
Jurisdiction
In the United States, courts-martial are conducted under the Uniform C ...
*
Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals
The Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals (CGCCA) is the intermediate appellate court for criminal convictions in the U.S. Coast Guard. It is located in Washington, DC.
The Court was established under Article 66, Uniform Code of Military Justi ...
*
Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) is the intermediate appellate court for criminal convictions in the United States Navy and the Marine Corps.
Courts-martial are conducted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Title 1 ...
*
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 801–946 is the foundation of military law in the United States. It was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitutio ...
References
''2019 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial''''Completely revised Manual for Courts-Martial''h1>
External links
''Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)'', United States (2019 Edition)''Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)'', United States (2016 Edition)Caution: 6.9 MB
PDF document.
''Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)'', United States (2012 Edition)Caution: 6.64 MB
PDF document.
''Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)'', United States (2008 Edition)Caution: 5.54 MB
PDF document.
''Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)'', United States (2005 Edition)Caution: 9.92 MB
PDF document.
''Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM)'', United States (2000 Edition)Caution: 3.5 MB
PDF document.
2013 Amendments to the ''Manual for Courts-Martial'', United States PDF document.
Courts-martial in the United States
United States military law
Publications of the United States government
Handbooks and manuals
Legal literature
United States executive orders
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