Last Updated on August 8, 2019
The UCMJ is military law that governs all members of all branches of the military (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) worldwide. The UCMJ was passed by Congress in 1950, signed into law by President Truman and became effective in 1951.
The following links from Uniformed Code of Military Justice website give an overview of the UCMJ. It includes specifics within each chapter.
Sub Chapter I. General Provisions
Article 1. Definitions
Article 2. Persons Subject to this chapter.
Article 3. Jurisdiction to try certain personnel.
Article 4. Dismissed officer’s right to trial by court-martial.
Article 5. Territorial applicability of this chapter.
Article 6. Judge advocates and legal officers.
Article 6a. Investigation and disposition of maters pertaining to the fitness of military judges.
Sub Chapter II. Apprehension and Restraint
Article 7. Apprehension.
Article 8. Apprehension of deserters.
Article 9. Imposition of Restraint.
Article 10. Restraint of persons charged with offenses.
Article 11. Reports and receiving of prisoners.
Article 12. Confinement with enemy prisoners prohibited.
Article 13. Punishment prohibited before trial.
Article 14. Delivery of offenders to civil authorities.
Sub Chapter III. Non-Judicial Punishment
Article 15. Non-Judicial Punishment
Sub Chapter IV. Court-Martial Jurisdiction
Article 16. Courts-Martial classified.
Article 17. Jurisdiction of courts-martial in general.
Article 18. Jurisdiction of general courts-martial.
Article 19. Jurisdiction of special courts-martial.
Article 20. Jurisdiction of summary courts-martial.
Article 21. Jurisdiction of courts-martial not exclusive.
Sub Chapter V. Composition Of Courts-Martial
Article 22. Who may convene general courts-martial.
Article 23. Who may convene special courts-martial.
Article 24. Who may convene summary courts-martial.
Article 25. Who may serve on courts-martial.
Article 26. Military judge of a general or special court-martial.
Article 27. Detail of trial counsel and defense counsel.
Article 28. Detail or employment of reporters and interpreters.
Article 29. Absent and additional members.
Sub Chapter VI. Pre-Trial Procedure
Article 30. Charges and specifications.
Article 31. Compulsory self-incrimination prohibited.
Article 32. Investigation.
Article 33. Forwarding of charges.
Article 34. Advice of staff judge advocate and reference for trial.
Article 35. Service of charges.
Sub Chapter VII. Trial Procedure
Article 36. President may prescribe rules.
Article 37. Unlawful influencing the action of the court.
Article 38. Duties of trial counsel and defense counsel.
Article 39. Sessions.
Article 40. Continuances.
Article 41. Challenges.
Article 42. Oaths.
Article 43. Statute of limitations.
Article 44. Former jeopardy.
Article 45. Pleas of the accused.
Article 46. Opportunity to obtain witnesses and other evidence.
Article 47. Refusal to appear or testify.
Article 48. Contempts.
Article 49. Depositions.
Article 50. Admissibility of records of courts of inquiry.
Article 50a. Defense lack of mental responsibility.
Article 51. Voting and rulings.
Article 52. Number of votes required.
Article 53. Court to announce action.
Article 54. Record of trial.
Sub Chapter VIII. Sentences
Article 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited.
Article 56. Maximum limits.
Article 57. Effective date of sentences.
Article 58. Execution of confinement.
Article 58a. Sentences: reduction in enlisted grade upon approval.
Sub Chapter IX. Post-Trial Procedure And Review Of Courts-Martial
Article 59. Error of law; lesser included offense.
Article 60. Action by the convening authority.
Article 61. Waiver or withdrawal of appeal.
Article 62. Appeal by the United States.
Article 63. Rehearings.
Article 64. Review by a judge advocate.
Article 65. Disposition of records.
Article 66. Review by Court of Military Review.
Article 67. Review by the Court of Military Appeals.
Article 67a. Review by the Supreme Court.
Article 68. Branch offices.
Article 69. Review in the office of the Judge Advocate General.
Article 70. Appellate counsel.
Article 71. Execution of sentence; suspension of sentence.
Article 72. Vacation of suspension.
Article 73. Petition for a new trial.
Article 74. Remission and suspension.
Article 75. Restoration.
Article 76. Finality of proceedings, findings, and sentences.
Article 76a. Leave required to be taken pending review of certain court-martial convictions.
Sub Chapter X. Punitive Articles
Article 77. Principals.
Article 78. Accessory after the fact.
Article 79. Conviction of lesser included offense.
Article 80. Attempts.
Article 81. Conspiracy.
Article 82. Solicitation.
Article 83. Fraudulent enlistment, appointment, or separation.
Article 84. Unlawful enlistment, appointment, or separation.
Article 85. Desertion.
Article 86. Absence without leave.
Article 87. Missing movement.
Article 88. Contempt toward officials.
Article 89. Disrespect toward superior commissioned officer.
Article 90. Assaulting or willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer.
Article 91. Insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer.
Article 92. Failure to obey order or regulation.
Article 93. Cruelty and maltreatment.
Article 94. Mutiny or sedition.
Article 95. Resistance, breach of arrest, and escape.
Article 96. Releasing prisoner without proper authority.
Article 97. Unlawful detention.
Article 98. Noncompliance with procedural rules.
Article 99. Misbehavior before the enemy.
Article 100. Subordinate compelling surrender.
Article 101. Improper use of countersign.
Article 102. Forcing a safeguard.
Article 103. Capture or abandoned property.
Article 104. Aiding the enemy.
Article 105. Misconduct as prisoner.
Article 106. Spies.
Article 106a. Espionage
Article 107. False official statements.
Article 108. Military property of United States– Loss, damage, destruction, or wrongful disposition.
Article 109. Property other than military property of the United States– Waste, spoilage, or destruction.
Article 110. Improper hazarding of vessel.
Article 111. Drunken or reckless driving.
Article 112. Drunk on duty.
Article 112a. Wrongful use, possession, etc., of controlled substances.
Article 113. Misbehavior of sentinel.
Article 114. Dueling.
Article 115. Malingering.
Article 116. Riot or breach of peace.
Article 117. Provoking speeches or gestures.
Article 118. Murder.
Article 119. Manslaughter.
Article 120. Rape and carnal knowledge.
Article 121. Larceny and wrongful appropriation.
Article 122. Robbery.
Article 123. Forgery.
Article 123a. Making, drawing, or uttering check, draft, or order without sufficient funds.
Article 124. Maiming.
Article 125. Sodomy.
Article 126. Arson.
Article 127. Extortion.
Article 128. Assault.
Article 129. Burglary.
Article 130. Housebreaking.
Article 131. Perjury.
Article 132. Frauds against the United States.
Article 133. Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
Article 134. General Article.
Sub Chapter XI. Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 135. Courts of inquiry.
Article 136. Authority to administer oaths and to act as notary.
Article 137. Articles to be explained.
Article 138. Complaints of wrongs.
Article 139. Redress of injuries to property.
Article 140. Delegation by the President.
Sub Chapter XII. Court Of Military Appeals
Article 141. Status.
Article 142. Judges.
Article 143. Organization and employees.
Article 144. Procedure.
Article 145. Annuities for judges and survivors.
Article 146. Code committee.