Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§888 Art. 88. Contempt toward officials

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 47— - UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - PUNITIVE ARTICLES › § 888

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A commissioned officer who insults top federal officials or the governor or legislature where they serve will be punished by court-martial.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §888

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

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

Amendments

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 AmendmentAmendment 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 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 888

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73