Summary of changes

Article 118 — Murder

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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.

2 amended 0 added 0 removed 45 unchanged 3 authority-backed edits · recorded 2026-07-10 – 2026-07-10
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Provisions
56.a. amended
Version history
Original text
Text of statute.
Any person subject to this chapter who, without justification or excuse, unlawfully kills a human being, when he—
Current text
Text of statute.
Any person subject to this chapter who, without justification or excuse, unlawfully kills a human being, when such person—
All changes since the original (removed / added)
Text of statute.
Any person subject to this chapter who, without justification or excuse, unlawfully kills a human being, when he—such person—
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
VersionDateAuthorityNoteEditor
v2 2026-07-10 Public Law No. 118-31 (NDAA 2024) (Public Law, eff. 2023-12-23) admin
Text of statute.
Any person subject to this chapter who, without justification or excuse, unlawfully kills a human being, when he—such person—
56.a.(4) amended
Version history
Original text
is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of burglary, rape, rape of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual contact, sexual abuse of a child, robbery or aggravated arson; is guilty of murder, and shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial may direct, except that if found guilty under clause (1) or (4), he shall suffer death or imprisonment for life as a court-martial may direct.
Current text
is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of burglary, rape, rape of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual contact, sexual abuse of a child, robbery or aggravated arson; is guilty of murder, and shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial may direct, except that if found guilty under clause (1) or (4), such person shall suffer death or imprisonment for life as a court-martial may direct, unless such person is otherwise sentenced in accordance with a plea agreement entered into between the parties under section 853a of this title (article 53a).
All changes since the original (removed / added)
is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of burglary, rape, rape of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual contact, sexual abuse of a child, robbery or aggravated arson; is guilty of murder, and shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial may direct, except that if found guilty under clause (1) or (4), hesuch person shall suffer death or imprisonment for life as a court-martial may direct.direct, unless such person is otherwise sentenced in accordance with a plea agreement entered into between the parties under section 853a of this title (article 53a).
Step-by-step: 2 recorded edits
VersionDateAuthorityNoteEditor
v2 2026-07-10 Public Law No. 118-31 (NDAA 2024) (Public Law, eff. 2023-12-23) admin
is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of burglary, rape, rape of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual contact, sexual abuse of a child, robbery or aggravated arson; is guilty of murder, and shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial may direct, except that if found guilty under clause (1) or (4), hesuch person shall suffer death or imprisonment for life as a court-martial may direct.
v3 2026-07-10 Public Law No. 118-31 (NDAA 2024) (Public Law, eff. 2023-12-23) admin
is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of burglary, rape, rape of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual contact, sexual abuse of a child, robbery or aggravated arson; is guilty of murder, and shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial may direct, except that if found guilty under clause (1) or (4), such person shall suffer death or imprisonment for life as a court-martial may direct.direct, unless such person is otherwise sentenced in accordance with a plea agreement entered into between the parties under section 853a of this title (article 53a).

“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.