1、 www.crs.gov | 7-5700 November 16, 2016Defense Primer: The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to raise and support armies; provide and maintain a navy; and provide for organizing and disciplining their members. Under thi
2、s authority, Congress has enacted the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which is the code of military criminal laws applicable to all U.S. military members worldwide. The President implemented the UCMJ through the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM), which was initially prescribed by Executive Or
3、der 12473 (April 13, 1984). The MCM contains the Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM), the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE), and the UCMJ. The MCM covers almost all aspects of military law. Military courts are not considered Article III courts, but instead are established pursuant to Article I of the Cons
4、titution and, as a result, are of limited jurisdiction. Jurisdiction The UCMJ gives courts-martial jurisdiction over servicemembers as well as several other categories of individuals. Jurisdiction of a court-martial does not depend on where the offense was committed; it depends solely on the status
