Summary of changes
Article 1 — Definitions
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.
1 amended
0 added
1 removed
27 unchanged
2 authority-backed edits · recorded
2026-07-11 – 2026-07-12
Authorities behind these changes
- Public Law No. 117–263 (NDAA 2023) · Public Law, eff. 2025-01-01 · 2 changes
Showing every provision.
Provisions
1
unchanged
Original text
In this chapter (the Uniform Code of Military justice):
Current text
In this chapter (the Uniform Code of Military justice):
1(1)
unchanged
Original text
The term “Judge Advocate General” means, severally, the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and, except when the Coast Guard is operating as a service in the Navy, an official designated to serve as Judge Advocate General of the Coast Guard by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Current text
The term “Judge Advocate General” means, severally, the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and, except when the Coast Guard is operating as a service in the Navy, an official designated to serve as Judge Advocate General of the Coast Guard by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
1(2)
unchanged
Original text
The Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard when it is operating as a service in the Navy, shall be considered as one armed force.
Current text
The Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard when it is operating as a service in the Navy, shall be considered as one armed force.
1(3)
unchanged
Original text
The term “commanding officer” includes only commissioned officers.
Current text
The term “commanding officer” includes only commissioned officers.
1(4)
unchanged
Original text
The term “officer in charge” means a member of the Navy, the Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard designated as such by appropriate authority.
Current text
The term “officer in charge” means a member of the Navy, the Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard designated as such by appropriate authority.
1(5)
unchanged
Original text
The term “superior commissioned officer” means a commissioned officer superior in rank or command.
Current text
The term “superior commissioned officer” means a commissioned officer superior in rank or command.
1(6)
unchanged
Original text
The term “cadet” means a cadet of the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Current text
The term “cadet” means a cadet of the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the United States Coast Guard Academy.
1(7)
unchanged
Original text
The term “midshipman” means a midshipman of the United States naval service.
Current text
The term “midshipman” means a midshipman of the United States naval service.
1(8)
unchanged
Original text
The term “military” refers to any or all of the armed forces.
Current text
The term “military” refers to any or all of the armed forces.
1(9)
unchanged
Original text
The term “accuser” means a person who signs and swears to charges, any person who directs that charges nominally be signed and sworn to by another, and any other person who has an interest other than an official interest in the prosecution of the accused.
Current text
The term “accuser” means a person who signs and swears to charges, any person who directs that charges nominally be signed and sworn to by another, and any other person who has an interest other than an official interest in the prosecution of the accused.
1(10)
unchanged
Original text
The term “military judge” means a judge advocate designated under section 826(c) of this title (article 26(c)) who is detailed under section 826(a) or section 830a of this title (article 26(a) or 30a)).
Current text
The term “military judge” means a judge advocate designated under section 826(c) of this title (article 26(c)) who is detailed under section 826(a) or section 830a of this title (article 26(a) or 30a)).
1(11)
unchanged
Original text
The term ‘military magistrate’ means a commissioned officer certified for duty as a military magistrate in accordance with section 826a of this title (article 26a).
Current text
The term ‘military magistrate’ means a commissioned officer certified for duty as a military magistrate in accordance with section 826a of this title (article 26a).
1(12)
unchanged
Original text
The term “legal officer” means any commissioned officer of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard designated to perform legal duties for a command.
Current text
The term “legal officer” means any commissioned officer of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard designated to perform legal duties for a command.
1(13)
unchanged
Original text
The term “judge advocate” means—
Current text
The term “judge advocate” means—
1(13)(A)
unchanged
Original text
an officer of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force;
Current text
an officer of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force;
1(13)(B)
unchanged
Original text
an officer of the Marine Corps who is designated as a judge advocate; or
Current text
an officer of the Marine Corps who is designated as a judge advocate; or
1(13)(C)
unchanged
Original text
a commissioned officer of the Coast Guard designated for special duty (law).
Current text
a commissioned officer of the Coast Guard designated for special duty (law).
1(14)
unchanged
Original text
The term “record”, when used in connection with the proceedings of a court-martial, means—
Current text
The term “record”, when used in connection with the proceedings of a court-martial, means—
1(14)(A)
unchanged
Original text
an official written transcript, written summary, or other writing relating to the proceedings; or
Current text
an official written transcript, written summary, or other writing relating to the proceedings; or
1(14)(B)
unchanged
Original text
an official audiotape, videotape, or similar material from which sound, or sound and visual images, depicting the proceedings may be reproduced.
Current text
an official audiotape, videotape, or similar material from which sound, or sound and visual images, depicting the proceedings may be reproduced.
1(15)
unchanged
Original text
The term “classified information” means (A) any information or material that has been determined by an official of the United States pursuant to law, an Executive order, or regulation to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security, and (B) any restricted data, as defined in section 11(y) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014(y)).
Current text
The term “classified information” means (A) any information or material that has been determined by an official of the United States pursuant to law, an Executive order, or regulation to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security, and (B) any restricted data, as defined in section 11(y) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014(y)).
1(16)
unchanged
Original text
The term “national security” means the national defense and foreign relations of the United States.
Current text
The term “national security” means the national defense and foreign relations of the United States.
1(17)
unchanged
Original text
The term “covered offense” means—
Current text
The term “covered offense” means—
1(17)(A)
amended
Version history
Original text
an offense under section 917a (article 117a), section 918 (article 118), section 919 (article 119), section 119a (article 119a), section 920 (article 120), section 920a (article 120a), section 920b (article 120b), section 920c (article 120c), section 925 (article 125), section 928b (article 128b), section 930 (article 130), section 932 (article 132), or the standalone offense of child pornography punishable under section 934 (article 134) of this title;
Current text
an offense under section 917a (article 117a), section 918 (article 118), section 919 (article 119), section 919a (article 119a), section 920 (article 120), section 920a (article 120a), section 920b (article 120b), section 920c (article 120c), section 925 (article 125), section 928b (article 128b), section 930 (article 130), section 932 (article 132), the standalone offense of child pornography punishable under section 934 (article 134), or the standalone offense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 (article 134) of this title in each instance in which a formal complaint is made and such formal complaint is substantiated in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned;
All changes since the original (removed / added)
an offense under section 917a (article 117a), section 918 (article 118), section 919 (article 119), section 119a919a (article 119a), section 920 (article 120), section 920a (article 120a), section 920b (article 120b), section 920c (article 120c), section 925 (article 125), section 928b (article 128b), section 930 (article 130), section 932 (article 132), or the standalone offense of child pornography punishable under section 934 (article 134), or the standalone offense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 (article 134) of this title;title in each instance in which a formal complaint is made and such formal complaint is substantiated in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned;
Step-by-step: 2 recorded edits
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-11 | Public Law No. 117–263 (NDAA 2023) (Public Law, eff. 2025-01-01) | Pub. L. 117–263 § 541(b) (eff. Jan. 1, 2025) added the standalone sexual-harassment offense to the "covered offense" definition. | admin |
an offense under section 917a (article 117a), section 918 (article 118), section 919 (article 119), section |
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| v3 | 2026-07-11 | Public Law No. 117–263 (NDAA 2023) (Public Law, eff. 2025-01-01) | Pub. L. 117–263 § 541(b) (eff. Jan. 1, 2025) added the standalone sexual-harassment offense to the "covered offense" definition. | admin |
1(17)(B)
unchanged
Original text
a conspiracy to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 881 of this title (article 81);
Current text
a conspiracy to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 881 of this title (article 81);
1(17)(C)
unchanged
Original text
a solicitation to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 882 of this title (article 82); or
Current text
a solicitation to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 882 of this title (article 82); or
1(17)(D)
unchanged
Original text
an attempt to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) as punishable under section 880 of this title (article 80).
Current text
an attempt to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) as punishable under section 880 of this title (article 80).
1(18)
unchanged
Original text
The term “special trial counsel” means a judge advocate detailed as a special trial counsel in accordance with section 824a of this title (article 24a) and includes a judge advocate appointed as a lead special trial counsel pursuant to section 1044f(a)(2) of this title.
Current text
The term “special trial counsel” means a judge advocate detailed as a special trial counsel in accordance with section 824a of this title (article 24a) and includes a judge advocate appointed as a lead special trial counsel pursuant to section 1044f(a)(2) of this title.
Provisions removed since the original
1(18)|N
removed since original
Version history
Original text
Not in the original text — this provision was added later.
Text when removed
No longer in the current text.
Office of Law Revision Counsel, United States Code, 18 USC 801:Article 1. Definitions (Sep. 13, 2023, 5:17 PM),https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:10%20section:801%20edition:prelim) provides:“Pub. L. 117-263, div, title V, § 541(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat.2580, provided that, effective Jan. 1, 2025, and applicable withrespect to offenses that occur after that date, paragraph (17)(A) ofthis second is amended:(1) by striking “or”; and(2) by striking “of this title” and inserting “, or the standaloneoffense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 (article134) of this title in each instance in which a formal complaint is madeand such formal complaint is substantiated in accordance withregulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.”
All changes since the original (removed / added)
Office of Law Revision Counsel, United States Code, 18 USC 801:Article 1. Definitions (Sep. 13, 2023, 5:17 PM),https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:10%20section:801%20edition:prelim) provides:“Pub. L. 117-263, div, title V, § 541(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat.2580, provided that, effective Jan. 1, 2025, and applicable withrespect to offenses that occur after that date, paragraph (17)(A) ofthis second is amended:(1) by striking “or”; and(2) by striking “of this title” and inserting “, or the standaloneoffense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 (article134) of this title in each instance in which a formal complaint is madeand such formal complaint is substantiated in accordance withregulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.”
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | 2026-07-12 | no authority cited | admin | |
Office of Law Revision Counsel, United States Code, 18 USC 801:Article 1. Definitions (Sep. 13, 2023, 5:17 PM),https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:10%20section:801%20edition:prelim) provides:“Pub. L. 117-263, div, title V, § 541(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat.2580, provided that, effective Jan. 1, 2025, and applicable withrespect to offenses that occur after that date, paragraph (17)(A) ofthis second is amended:(1) by striking “or”; and(2) by striking “of this title” and inserting “, or the standaloneoffense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 (article134) of this title in each instance in which a formal complaint is madeand such formal complaint is substantiated in accordance withregulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.” |
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“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.