Conscription

Conscription

The constitutions adopted during the Revolutionary War by at least nine of the States sanctioned compulsory military service.1 Towards the end of the War of 1812, conscription of men for the army was proposed by James Monroe, then Secretary of War, but opposition developed and peace came before the bill could be enacted. 2 In 1863, a compulsory draft law was adopted and put into operation without being challenged in the federal courts.3 Not so the Selective Service Act of 1917.4 This measure was attacked on the grounds that it tended to deprive the States of the right to “a well-regulated militia,” that the only power of Congress to exact compulsory service was the power to provide for calling forth the militia for the three purposes specified in the Constitution, which did not comprehend service abroad, and finally that the compulsory draft imposed involuntary servitude in violation of the Thirteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court rejected all of these contentions. It held that the powers of the States with respect to the militia were exercised in subordination to the paramount power of the National Government to raise and support armies, and that the power of Congress to mobilize an army was distinct from its authority to provide for calling the militia and was not qualified or in any wise limited thereby.5

More about Conscription

Before the United States entered the first World War, the Court had anticipated the objection that compulsory military service would violate the Thirteenth Amendment and had answered it in the following words: “It introduced no novel doctrine with respect of services always treated as exceptional, and certainly was not intended to interdict enforcement of those duties which individuals owe to the State, such as services in the army, militia, on the jury, etc. The great purpose in view was liberty under the protection of effective government, not the destruction of the latter by depriving it of essential powers.” 6 Accordingly, in the Selective Draft Law Cases,7 it dismissed the objection under that amendment as a contention that was “refuted by its mere statement.” 8

Conscription: Developments

Although the Supreme Court has so far formally declined to pass on the question of the “peacetime” draft,9 its opinions leave no doubt of the constitutional validity of the act. In United States v. O'Brien,10 upholding a statute prohibiting the destruction of selective service registration certificates, the Court, speaking through Chief Justice Warren, thought “[t]he power of Congress to classify and conscript manpower for military service is 'beyond question.' ” 11 In noting Congress's “broad constitutional power” to raise and regulate armies and navies,1625 the Court has specifically observed that the conscription act was passed “pursuant to” the grant of authority to Congress in clauses 12-14.1626

Resources

References

This text about Conscription is based on “The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation”, published by the U.S. Government Printing Office.

[Footnote 1] Selective Draft Law Cases, 245 U.S. 366, 380 (1918); Cox v. Wood, 247 U.S. 3 (1918).

[Footnote 2] 245 U.S. at 385.

[Footnote 3] 245 U.S. at 386-88. The measure was upheld by a state court. Kneedler v. Lane, 45 Pa. St. 238 (1863).

[Footnote 4] Act of May 18, 1917, 40 Stat. 76.

[Footnote 5] Selective Draft Law Cases, 245 U.S. 366, 381, 382 (1918).

[Footnote 6] Butler v. Perry, 240 U.S. 328, 333 (1916) (upholding state law requiring ablebodied men to work on the roads).

[Footnote 7] 245 U.S. 366 (1918).

[Footnote 8] 245 U.S. at 390.

[Footnote 9] Universal Military Training and Service Act of 1948, 62 Stat. 604, as amended, 50 U.S.C. App. §§ 451-473. Actual conscription was precluded as of July 1, 1973, Pub. L. 92-129, 85 Stat. 353, 50 U.S.C. App. § 467(c), and registration was discontinued on March 29, 1975. Pres. Proc. No. 4360, 3 C.F.R. 462 (1971-1975 Compilation), 50 U.S.C. App. § 453 note. Registration, but not conscription, was reactivated in the wake of the invasion of Afghanistan. Pub. L. 96-282, 94 Stat. 552 (1980).

[Footnote 10] 391 U.S. 367 (1968).

[Footnote 11] 391 U.S. at 377, quoting Lichter v. United States, 334 U.S. 742, 756 (1948).

Tables of Contents

• Conscription and other Topics in the Contents – Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution
• U.S. Constitutional Law Category
• List of amendments to the U.S. Constitution
• Conscription and other Topics in the Constitution Contents
• Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution (Table of Contents)
• Clauses of the Constitution (Table of Contents)