Subchapter IV · Court-Martial Jurisdiction

Article 18. Jurisdiction of general courts-martial

2024 Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

Recent revisions Summary of changes Cited by (3)
(a) Subject to section 817 of this title (article 17), general courts-martial have jurisdiction to try persons subject to this chapter for any offense made punishable by this chapter and may, under such limitations as the President may prescribe, adjudge any punishment not forbidden by this chapter, including the penalty of death when specifically authorized by this chapter. General courts-martial also have jurisdiction to try any person who by the law of war is subject to trial by a military tribunal and may adjudge any punishment permitted by the law of war.
(b) A general court-martial of the kind specified in section 816(b)(3) of this title (article 16(b)(3)) shall not have jurisdiction to try any person for any offense for which the death penalty may be adjudged unless the case has been previously referred to trial as a noncapital case.
(c) Consistent with sections 819 and 820 of this title (articles 19 and 20), only general courts-martial have jurisdiction over the following offenses:
(1) A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 920 of this title (article 120).
(2) A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 920b of this title (article 120b).
(3) An attempt to commit an offense specified in paragraph (1) or (2) that is punishable under section 880 of this title (article 80).
Cross-referencesCited by 3Cites 11Elsewhere 1
Cited by

Provisions elsewhere in the Manual whose text cites Article 18. Each link opens the citing provision.

Rules for Courts-Martial
Discussion under R.C.M. 201(f)(1)(D) — Jurisdiction in general
…(a) and (b) of Article 120b, and attempts to commit such penetrative sex offenses under Article 80. See Article 18, as amended by Section 1705(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, Pub. L. No.…
Discussion under R.C.M. 201(f)(2)(D) — Jurisdiction in general
…and (b) of Article 120b, and attempts to commit such penetrative sex offenses under Article 80. See UCMJ, Art. 18, as amended by Section 1705(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, Pub. L. No.…
Discussion under R.C.M. 307(c)(2) — Preferral of charges
…. In the case of a person subject to trial by general court-martial for violations of the law of war ( see Article 18), the charge should be: “Violation of the Law of War”; or “Violation of __________, ______”…
Article 18 cites

Provisions named in the text of Article 18. Where the cited provision is on this site, the link opens it.

Elsewhere on this site
Court-martial process overview
Stage: General court-martial