Which code governs discipline for U.S. military personnel?

• A. Uniform Code of Military Justice
• B. Civil Code of the United States
• C. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
• D. Military Justice Act

Answer: (A)

The Uniform Code of Military Justice is the system that governs discipline for U.S. military personnel. It creates the offenses service members can be charged with, and it lays out the whole process for handling discipline—courts-martial, nonjudicial punishment, and the avenues for appeals. This code is designed to apply uniformly across all branches and ranks, ensuring a standardized framework for maintaining good order and discipline in the armed forces. It is the military’s formal, centralized set of laws, separate from civilian law.

The Civil Code of the United States applies to civilians, not service members. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure govern civilian federal criminal cases in federal courts, not the military disciplinary system. The Military Justice Act refers to amendments that have refined or expanded parts of the UCMJ, but it is not the overarching code itself.