Summary of changes
Article 116 — Riot or breach of peace
The text as it stood in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition beside the current text, provision by provision, with every recorded amendment and the authority behind it — the whole Article in one view.
0 amended
0 added
0 removed
20 unchanged
No changes recorded for this Article —
its text is the same as the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition.
Showing every provision.
Provisions
54.a.
unchanged
Original text
Text of statute.
Any person subject to this chapter who causes or participates in any riot or breach of the peace shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
Current text
Text of statute.
Any person subject to this chapter who causes or participates in any riot or breach of the peace shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
54.b.
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Original text
Elements.
Current text
Elements.
54.b.(1)
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Original text
Riot.
Current text
Riot.
54.b.(1)(a)
unchanged
Original text
That the accused was a member of an assembly of three or more persons;
Current text
That the accused was a member of an assembly of three or more persons;
54.b.(1)(b)
unchanged
Original text
That the accused and at least two other members of this group mutually intended to assist one another against anyone who might oppose them in doing an act for some private purpose;
Current text
That the accused and at least two other members of this group mutually intended to assist one another against anyone who might oppose them in doing an act for some private purpose;
54.b.(1)(c)
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Original text
That the group or some of its members, in furtherance of such purpose, unlawfully committed a tumultuous disturbance of the peace in a violent or turbulent manner; and
Current text
That the group or some of its members, in furtherance of such purpose, unlawfully committed a tumultuous disturbance of the peace in a violent or turbulent manner; and
54.b.(1)(d)
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Original text
That these acts terrorized the public in general in that they caused or were intended to cause public alarm or terror.
Current text
That these acts terrorized the public in general in that they caused or were intended to cause public alarm or terror.
54.b.(2)
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Original text
Breach of the peace.
Current text
Breach of the peace.
54.b.(2)(a)
unchanged
Original text
That the accused caused or participated in a certain act of a violent or turbulent nature; and
Current text
That the accused caused or participated in a certain act of a violent or turbulent nature; and
54.b.(2)(b)
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Original text
That the peace was thereby unlawfully disturbed.
Current text
That the peace was thereby unlawfully disturbed.
54.c.
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Original text
Explanation.
Current text
Explanation.
54.c.(1)
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Original text
Riot.
A riot is a tumultuous disturbance of the peace by three or more persons assembled together in furtherance of a common purpose to execute some enterprise of a private nature by concerted action against anyone who might oppose them, committed in such a violent and turbulent manner as to cause or be calculated to cause public terror. The gravamen of the offense of riot is terrorization of the public. It is immaterial whether the act intended was lawful. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the common purpose be determined before the assembly. It is sufficient if the assembly begins to execute in a tumultuous manner a common purpose formed after it assembled.
Current text
Riot.
A riot is a tumultuous disturbance of the peace by three or more persons assembled together in furtherance of a common purpose to execute some enterprise of a private nature by concerted action against anyone who might oppose them, committed in such a violent and turbulent manner as to cause or be calculated to cause public terror. The gravamen of the offense of riot is terrorization of the public. It is immaterial whether the act intended was lawful. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the common purpose be determined before the assembly. It is sufficient if the assembly begins to execute in a tumultuous manner a common purpose formed after it assembled.
54.c.(2)
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Original text
Breach of the peace.
A breach of the peace is an unlawful disturbance of the peace by an outward demonstration of a violent or turbulent nature. The acts or conduct contemplated by this article are those which disturb the public tranquility or impinge upon the peace and good order to which the community is entitled. Engaging in an affray and unlawful discharge of firearms in a public street are examples of conduct which may constitute a breach of the peace. Loud speech and unruly conduct may also constitute a breach of the peace by the speaker. A speaker may also be guilty of causing a breach of the peace if the speaker uses language which can reasonably be expected to produce a violent or turbulent response and a breach of the peace results. The fact that the words are true or used under provocation is not a defense, nor is tumultuous conduct excusable because incited by others.
Current text
Breach of the peace.
A breach of the peace is an unlawful disturbance of the peace by an outward demonstration of a violent or turbulent nature. The acts or conduct contemplated by this article are those which disturb the public tranquility or impinge upon the peace and good order to which the community is entitled. Engaging in an affray and unlawful discharge of firearms in a public street are examples of conduct which may constitute a breach of the peace. Loud speech and unruly conduct may also constitute a breach of the peace by the speaker. A speaker may also be guilty of causing a breach of the peace if the speaker uses language which can reasonably be expected to produce a violent or turbulent response and a breach of the peace results. The fact that the words are true or used under provocation is not a defense, nor is tumultuous conduct excusable because incited by others.
54.c.(3)
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Original text
Community and public.
Community and public include a military organization, post, camp, ship, aircraft, or station.
Current text
Community and public.
Community and public include a military organization, post, camp, ship, aircraft, or station.
54.d.
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Original text
Maximum punishment.
Current text
Maximum punishment.
54.d.(1)
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Original text
Riot.
Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years.
Current text
Riot.
Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years.
54.d.(2)
unchanged
Original text
Breach of the peace.
Confinement for 6 months and forfeiture of two-thirds pay per month for 6 months.
Current text
Breach of the peace.
Confinement for 6 months and forfeiture of two-thirds pay per month for 6 months.
54.e.
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Original text
Sample specification s.
Current text
Sample specification s.
54.e.(1)
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Original text
Riot.
In that __________ (personal jurisdiction data), did, (at/on board—location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or about _____ 20 __, (cause) (participate in) a riot by unlawfully assembling with _____ (and _____) (and) (others to the number of about _____ whose names are unknown) for the purpose of (resisting the police of _____) (assaulting passers-by) (_____), and in furtherance of said purpose did (fight with said police) (assault certain persons, to wit: _____) (_____), to the terror and disturbance of _____.
Current text
Riot.
In that __________ (personal jurisdiction data), did, (at/on board—location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or about _____ 20 __, (cause) (participate in) a riot by unlawfully assembling with _____ (and _____) (and) (others to the number of about _____ whose names are unknown) for the purpose of (resisting the police of _____) (assaulting passers-by) (_____), and in furtherance of said purpose did (fight with said police) (assault certain persons, to wit: _____) (_____), to the terror and disturbance of _____.
54.e.(2)
unchanged
Original text
Breach of the peace.
In that __________ (personal jurisdiction data), did, (at/on board—location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or about _____ 20 __, (cause) (participate in) a breach of the peace by (wrongfully engaging in a fist fight in the dayroom with __________) (using the following provoking language (toward _____), to wit: “_____,” or words to that effect) (wrongfully shouting and singing in a public place, to wit: _____) (_____).
Current text
Breach of the peace.
In that __________ (personal jurisdiction data), did, (at/on board—location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or about _____ 20 __, (cause) (participate in) a breach of the peace by (wrongfully engaging in a fist fight in the dayroom with __________) (using the following provoking language (toward _____), to wit: “_____,” or words to that effect) (wrongfully shouting and singing in a public place, to wit: _____) (_____).
“Original text” is the state captured the first time a provision was edited under change tracking — i.e. the text as published in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition. Provisions edited without being “marked as changed” (typos, formatting) are not recorded here; see the recent revisions feed and the site-wide changes log.