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Title 10 — Armed Forces

Part II · Chapter 47 — Uniform Code of Military Justice

§ 888. Art. 88. Contempt toward officials

Statutory text

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67 · 70A Stat. 67

    Enacted · 10 U.S.C. § 888

    Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67

  2. Defense Officer Personnel Management Act

    Pub. L. 96–513 title V § 511(25) · 94 Stat. 2835

    Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 888

    Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of the Treasury”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of the Treasury”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (25) Sections 865(c) and 888 are amended by striking out “the Treasury” and inserting in lieu thereof “Transportation”.

  3. Homeland Security Act of 2002

    Pub. L. 107–296 title XVII § 1704(b)(1) · 116 Stat. 2135

    Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 888

    Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Secretary of Homeland Security” for “Secretary of Transportation”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Secretary of Homeland Security” for “Secretary of Transportation”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) Title 10, United States Code, is amended in sections 101(9), 130b(a), 130b(c)(4), 130c(h)(1), 379, 513(d), 575(b)(2), 580(e)(6), 580a(e), 651(a), 671(c)(2), 708(a), 716(a), 717, 806(d)(2), 815(e), 888, 946(c)(1), 973(d), 978(d), 983(b)(1), 985(a), 1033(b)(1), 1033(d), 1034, 1037(c), 1044d(f), 1058(c), 1059(a), 1059(k)(1), 1073(a), 1074(c)(1), 1089(g)(2), 1090, 1091(a), 1124, 1143, 1143a(h), 1144, 1145(e), 1148, 1149, 1150(c), 1152(a), 1152(d)(1), 1153, 1175, 1212(a), 1408(h)(2), 1408(h)(8), 1463(a)(2), 1482a(b), 1510, 1552(a)(1), 1565(f), 1588(f)(4), 1589, 2002(a), 2302(1), 2306b(b), 2323(j)(2), 2376(2), 2396(b)(1), 2410a(a), 2572(a), 2575(a), 2578, 2601(b)(4), 2634(e), 2635(a), 2734(g), 2734a, 2775, 2830(b)(2), 2835, 2836, 4745(a), 5013a(a), 7361(b), 10143(b)(2), 10146(a), 10147(a), 10149(b), 10150, 10202(b), 10203(d), 10205(b), 10301(b), 12103(b), 12103(d), 12304, 12311(c), 12522(c), 12527(a)(2), 12731(b), 12731a(e), 16131(a), 16136(a), 16301(g), and 18501 by striking “of Transportation” each place it appears and inserting “of Homeland Security”.

    Effective date note
    Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

  4. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

    Pub. L. 109–163 div. A title X § 1057(a)(3) · 119 Stat. 3136

    Struck · 10 U.S.C. § 888

    Pub. L. 109–163 struck out “Territory,” after “State,”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 109–163 struck out “Territory,” after “State,”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (3) The following sections are amended by striking the terms “Territory,” and “Territories,” each place they appear: sections 849, 858, 888, 2668, 2669, 7545, and 9773.

3 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

historicalAndRevision
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
88850:682.May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 88), 64 Stat. 135.

The word “commissioned” is inserted for clarity. The words “the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession” are substituted for the words “Vice President, Congress, Secretary of Defense, or a Secretary of a Department, a Governor or a legislature of any State, Territory, or other possession of the United States”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1980–2006 · 3 rounds

2006

Pub. L. 109–163 struck out “Territory,” after “State,”.

2002

Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Secretary of Homeland Security” for “Secretary of Transportation”.

1980

Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of the Treasury”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective , see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Credits

1956–2006 · 4 acts
  1. 1956Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67
  2. 1980Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(25), , 94 Stat. 2922
  3. 2002Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), , 116 Stat. 2314
  4. 2006Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(3), , 119 Stat. 3440.
Show as published

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(25), , 94 Stat. 2922; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), , 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(3), , 119 Stat. 3440.)

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