Summary of changes
Article 53 — Findings and sentencing
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
3 removed
12 unchanged
0 authority-backed edits · recorded
2026-07-11 – 2026-07-11
Showing every provision.
Provisions
53(a)
unchanged
Original text
ANNOUNCEMENT.—
A court-martial shall announce its findings and sentence to the parties as soon as determined.
Current text
ANNOUNCEMENT.—
A court-martial shall announce its findings and sentence to the parties as soon as determined.
53(b)
unchanged
Original text
SENTENCING GENERALLY.—
Current text
SENTENCING GENERALLY.—
53(b)(1)
unchanged
Original text
GENERAL AND SPECIAL COURTS-MARTIAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c) for capital offenses, if the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by general or special court martial, the military judge shall sentence the accused. The sentence determined by the military judge constitutes the sentence of the court-martial.
Current text
GENERAL AND SPECIAL COURTS-MARTIAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c) for capital offenses, if the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by general or special court martial, the military judge shall sentence the accused. The sentence determined by the military judge constitutes the sentence of the court-martial.
53(b)(2)
unchanged
Original text
SUMMARY COURTS-MARTIAL. —If the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by summary court-martial, the court-martial shall sentence the accused.
Current text
SUMMARY COURTS-MARTIAL. —If the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by summary court-martial, the court-martial shall sentence the accused.
53(c)
unchanged
Original text
SENTENCING FOR CAPITAL OFFENSES.—
Current text
SENTENCING FOR CAPITAL OFFENSES.—
53(c)(1)
unchanged
Original text
IN GENERAL.—
In a capital case, if the accused is convicted of an offense for which the court-martial may sentence the accused to death—
Current text
IN GENERAL.—
In a capital case, if the accused is convicted of an offense for which the court-martial may sentence the accused to death—
53(c)(1)(A)
unchanged
Original text
the members shall determine—
Current text
the members shall determine—
53(c)(1)(A)(i)
unchanged
Original text
whether the sentence for that offense shall be death or life in prison without eligibility for parole; or
Current text
whether the sentence for that offense shall be death or life in prison without eligibility for parole; or
53(c)(1)(A)(ii)
unchanged
Original text
whether the matter shall be returned to the military judge for determination of a lesser punishment; and
Current text
whether the matter shall be returned to the military judge for determination of a lesser punishment; and
53(c)(1)(B)
unchanged
Original text
the military judge shall sentence the accused for that offense in accordance with the determination of the members under subparagraph (A).
Current text
the military judge shall sentence the accused for that offense in accordance with the determination of the members under subparagraph (A).
53(c)(2)
unchanged
Original text
LESSER AUTHORIZED PUNISHMENT.—In accordance with regulations prescribed by the President, the military judge may include in any sentence to death or life in prison without eligibility for parole other lesser punishments authorized under this chapter.
Current text
LESSER AUTHORIZED PUNISHMENT.—In accordance with regulations prescribed by the President, the military judge may include in any sentence to death or life in prison without eligibility for parole other lesser punishments authorized under this chapter.
53(c)(3)
unchanged
Original text
OTHER NON-CAPITAL OFFENSES.—
In a capital case, if the accused is convicted of a non-capital offense, the accused shall be sentenced for such non-capital offense in accordance with subsection (b), regardless of whether the accused is convicted of an offense for which the court-martial may sentence the accused to death.
Current text
OTHER NON-CAPITAL OFFENSES.—
In a capital case, if the accused is convicted of a non-capital offense, the accused shall be sentenced for such non-capital offense in accordance with subsection (b), regardless of whether the accused is convicted of an offense for which the court-martial may sentence the accused to death.
Provisions removed since the original
53(b)(1)(A)
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.
SENTENCING BY MILITARY JUDGE.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and in subsection (c) for capital offenses, if the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by general or special court-martial, the military judge shall sentence the accused.
All changes since the original (removed / added)
SENTENCING BY MILITARY JUDGE.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and in subsection (c) for capital offenses, if the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by general or special court-martial, the military judge shall sentence the accused.
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | 2026-07-11 | no authority cited | Pub. L. 117–81 § 539E(a) (eff. Dec. 27, 2023) consolidated (b)(1); subparagraphs (A)–(C) removed. The (b)(1) lead text is unchanged. | admin |
SENTENCING BY MILITARY JUDGE.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and in subsection (c) for capital offenses, if the accused is convicted of an offense in a trial by general or special court-martial, the military judge shall sentence the accused. |
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53(b)(1)(B)
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.
SENTENCING BY MEMBERS.—If the accused is convicted of an offense by general or special court-martial consisting of a military judge and members and the accused elects sentencing by members under section 825 of this title (article 25), the members shall sentence the accused.
All changes since the original (removed / added)
SENTENCING BY MEMBERS.—If the accused is convicted of an offense by general or special court-martial consisting of a military judge and members and the accused elects sentencing by members under section 825 of this title (article 25), the members shall sentence the accused.
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | 2026-07-11 | no authority cited | Pub. L. 117–81 § 539E(a) (eff. Dec. 27, 2023) consolidated (b)(1); subparagraphs (A)–(C) removed. The (b)(1) lead text is unchanged. | admin |
SENTENCING BY MEMBERS.—If the accused is convicted of an offense by general or special court-martial consisting of a military judge and members and the accused elects sentencing by members under section 825 of this title (article 25), the members shall sentence the accused. |
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53(b)(1)(C)
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.
SENTENCE OF THE ACCUSED.—The sentence determined pursuant to this paragraph constitutes the sentence of the accused.
All changes since the original (removed / added)
SENTENCE OF THE ACCUSED.—The sentence determined pursuant to this paragraph constitutes the sentence of the accused.
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | 2026-07-11 | no authority cited | Pub. L. 117–81 § 539E(a) (eff. Dec. 27, 2023) consolidated (b)(1); subparagraphs (A)–(C) removed. The (b)(1) lead text is unchanged. | admin |
SENTENCE OF THE ACCUSED.—The sentence determined pursuant to this paragraph constitutes the sentence of the accused. |
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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.