Military Selective Service Act

E58345

The Military Selective Service Act is a United States federal law that authorizes the government to maintain a system for conscription (the draft) of individuals into the armed forces in times of national emergency or war.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
conscription law
administeredBy Selective Service System
amendedBy Military Selective Service Act of 1967
Military Selective Service Act of 1971
Military Selective Service Act of 1973
Military Selective Service Act of 1975
Military Selective Service Act of 1980
Selective Service Act of 1948
Universal Military Training and Service Act of 1951
appliesIn times of national emergency
times of war
appliesTo male U.S. citizens
male U.S. residents
associatedCase Rostker v. Goldberg
authorizes Selective Service System
induction of registrants into the armed forces
codifiedIn 50 U.S.C. § 3801 et seq.
containsProvision alternative service for conscientious objectors
conscientious objector status
country United States
dateEnacted 1940-09-16
enactedBy United States Congress
governmentBranch legislative branch of the United States
governs obligations of eligible males to register for the draft
historicalContext World War II mobilization
interpretedBy United States Supreme Court
language English
legalStatus in force
originalTitle Selective Training and Service Act of 1940
penaltyForNoncompliance criminal penalties
loss of certain federal benefits
providesFor classification of registrants
deferments
exemptions
purpose to authorize conscription into the U.S. armed forces
registrationAgeRange 18–25
regulates procedures for a military draft in the United States
relatedTo United States Armed Forces
conscription in the United States
replaced earlier peacetime draft proposals
requires registration with the Selective Service System
Rostker v. GoldbergDecisionYear 1981
Rostker v. GoldbergHolding male-only registration upheld as constitutional at that time
scope national
shortName MSSA
signedBy Franklin D. Roosevelt
subjectMatter military conscription
selective service registration

Referenced by (13)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Military Selective Service Act ("Selective Service Act of 1948")
Military Selective Service Act ("Military Selective Service Act of 1967")
Military Selective Service Act ("Military Selective Service Act of 1971")
Military Selective Service Act ("Military Selective Service Act of 1973")
Military Selective Service Act ("Military Selective Service Act of 1975")
Military Selective Service Act ("Military Selective Service Act of 1980")
amendedBy
Selective Service System
Selective Service System
legalBasis
Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 ("Selective Service Act of 1948")
followedBy
Woodrow Wilson administration ("Selective Service Act of 1917")
notablePolicy
Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 ("World War I era Selective Service Act of 1917")
precededBy
National Defense Act of 1916 ("Selective Service Act of 1917")
relatedTo
Selective Service System ("Military Selective Service Act requirements")
subjectOf

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