Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§8631 Accounting for Expenditures for Obtaining Information
Title 10 › Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps › PART IV — GENERAL ADMINISTRATION › CHAPTER 861 — SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: MISCELLANEOUS POWERS AND DUTIES › § 8631
Summary
When the Secretary of the Navy decides a Navy payment to get information anywhere in the world can be made public, the Navy must record that payment with specific details. If the Secretary decides the payment must stay secret, the Secretary must issue a written certificate showing the amount spent, and that certificate counts as an acceptable voucher for that amount.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §8631
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
When the Secretary of the Navy decides that an expenditure by the Department of the Navy from an appropriation for obtaining information from anywhere in the world may be made public, the expenditure shall be accounted for specifically. When the Secretary decides that an expenditure should not be made public, the Secretary shall make a certificate on the amount of the expenditure. The certificate is a sufficient voucher for the amount stated to have been spent.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 723131:108.Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 417 (2d proviso under heading “Pay, Miscellaneous”), 39 Stat. 557. The words “anywhere in the world” are substituted for “abroad and at home”, and the words “decides that an expenditure should not be made public” are substituted for “may think it advisable not to specify”, for clarity and consistency.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 8631, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 532, prohibited any officer of Air Force who was engaged in procurement or sale of quartermaster supplies from dealing in said supplies, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 90–235, § 7(b)(1), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 763. A prior section 8632, act Aug. 10, 1946, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 532, provided for forfeiture of pay during absence from duty due to disease from intemperate use of alcohol or drugs, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 87–649, § 14c(54), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 501, effective Nov. 1, 1962. See section 802 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7231 of this title as this section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of
Amendments
and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 8631
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102