US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

50 U.S.C. § 3801

Short title; Congressional declaration of policy

(a)
This Act may be cited as the “Military Selective Service Act”.
(b)
The Congress declares that an adequate armed strength must be achieved and maintained to insure the security of this Nation.
(c)
The Congress further declares that in a free society the obligations and privileges of serving in the armed forces and the reserve components thereof should be shared generally, in accordance with a system of selection which is fair and just, and which is consistent with the maintenance of an effective national economy.
(d)

To this end, it is the intent of the Congress that whenever Congress shall determine that units and organizations are needed for the national security in excess of those of the Regular components of the Ground Forces and the Air Forces, and those in active service under this chapter, the National Guard of the United States, both Ground and Air, or such part thereof as may be necessary, together with such units of the Reserve components as are necessary for a balanced force, shall be ordered to active Federal service and continued therein so long as such necessity exists.

The Congress further declares, in accordance with our traditional military policy as expressed in the National Defense Act of 1916, as amended, that it is essential that the strength and organization of the National Guard, both Ground and Air, as an integral part of the first line defenses of this Nation, be at all times maintained and assured.
(e)
The Congress further declares that adequate provision for national security requires maximum effort in the fields of scientific research and development, and the fullest possible utilization of the Nation’s technological, scientific, and other critical manpower resources.
(f)
The Congress further declares that the Selective Service System should remain administratively independent of any other agency, including the Department of Defense.

June 24, 1948, ch. 62562 Stat. 604June 19, 1951, ch. 14465 Stat. 75Pub. L. 90–40, § 1(1)81 Stat. 100Pub. L. 92–129, title I, § 101(a)(1)85 Stat. 348Pub. L. 96–107, title VIII, § 81293 Stat. 816(, title I, § 1, ; , title I, § 1(a), ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act June 24, 1948, ch. 62562 Stat. 604act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, § 5370A Stat. 641The Military Selective Service Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is , . Act was comprised of titles I and II, prior to repeal of title II by , . Title I of the Act is classified principally to this chapter. Title II of the Act was classified to the Articles of War set out in former Title 10, Army and Air Force, to sections 61, 61a, 62a, 65, and 652a of former Title 10, and to section 180 of former Title 14, Coast Guard, prior to repeal. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

act June 3, 1916, ch. 13439 Stat. 166act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, § 5370A Stat. 641The National Defense Act of 1916, referred to in subsec. (d), is , , which was classified generally throughout former Title 10, Army and Air Force, prior to repeal by , , and reenactment as parts of Title 10, Armed Forces, and Title 32, National Guard.

act June 24, 1948, ch. 62562 Stat. 604This chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of , , which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 451 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

Pub. L. 96–1071979—Subsec. (f). added subsec. (f).

Pub. L. 92–1291971—Subsec. (a). substituted “Military Selective Service Act” for “Military Selective Service Act of 1967”.

Pub. L. 90–401967—Subsec. (a). substituted “Military Selective Service Act of 1967” for “Universal Military Training and Service Act”.

1951—Subsec. (a). Act , substituted “Universal Military Training and Service Act” for “Selective Service Act of 1948”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 1969 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–124, § 183 Stat. 220

“That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Selective Service Amendment Act of 1969’.”
, , , provided:

Short Title of 1955 Amendment

Act June 30, 1955, ch. 250, § 169 Stat. 223

“That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘1955 Amendments to the Universal Military Training and Service Act’.”
, , provided:

Short Title of 1951 Amendment

Act June 19, 1951, ch. 144, title I, § 765 Stat. 89

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘1951 Amendments to the Universal Military Training and Service Act’.”
, , provided that:

Short Title of 1950 Amendment

Act Sept. 9, 1950, ch. 93964 Stat. 826section 3803 of this title, , which amended , is popularly known as the “Doctors Draft Act”.

Act June 30, 1950, ch. 445, § 464 Stat. 319

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Selective Service Extension Act of 1950’.”
, , provided that:

Separability

Act June 19, 1951, ch. 144, title I, § 565 Stat. 88

“If any provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification] or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the Act and of the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.”
, , provided that: