Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-102

§3820 Procedural Rights

Title 50 › CHAPTER 49 — MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE › § 3820

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Guarantees each registrant who files a claim before a local or appeal Selective Service board a fair, quick, and informal hearing. Under rules the President sets, the registrant can appear in person to testify and present evidence, call witnesses within reasonable limits on number and time, have enough board members present, and, if denied, receive a brief written reason on request.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §3820

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is hereby declared to be the purpose of this section to guarantee to each registrant asserting a claim before a local or appeal board, a fair hearing consistent with the informal and expeditious processing which is required by selective service cases.
(b)Pursuant to such rules and regulations as the President may prescribe—
(1)Each registrant shall be afforded the opportunity to appear in person before the local or any appeal board of the Selective Service System to testify and present evidence regarding his status.
(2)Subject to reasonable limitations on the number of witnesses and the total time allotted to each registrant, each registrant shall have the right to present witnesses on his behalf before the local board.
(3)A quorum of any local board or appeal board shall be present during the registrant’s personal appearance.
(4)In the event of a decision adverse to the claim of a registrant, the local or appeal board making such decision shall, upon request, furnish to such registrant a brief written statement of the reasons for its decision.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 471a of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 3820

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102