What did the Selective Service Act mean for the US Army apex?

Military Selective Service Act

What did the Selective Service Act mean for the US Army apex?
Other short titles

  • Elston Act
  • Selective Service Act of 1948

Long titleAn Act to provide for the common defense by increasing the strength of the armed forces of the United States, including the reserve components thereof, and for other purposes.
Enacted bythe 80th United States Congress
EffectiveJune 24, 1948
Citations
Public law80-759
Statutes at Large62 Stat. 604, Chapter 625
Codification
Titles amended50 U.S.C.: War and National Defense
U.S.C. sections created50 U.S.C. Appendix §§ 451-473
Legislative history

  • Introduced in the Senate as S. 2655 by Robert A. Taft (R–OH), Charles Elston (R–OH)
  • Passed the Senate on June 9, 1948 (78-10)
  • Passed the House on June 15, 1948 (329-61, in lieu of H.R. 6401)
  • Reported by the joint conference committee on June 19, 1948; agreed to by the House on June 19, 1948 (259-136)  
  • Signed into law by President Harry Truman on June 24, 1948

The Selective Service Act of 1948, also known as the Elston Act, was a major revision of the Articles of War of the United States enacted June 24, 1948 that established the current implementation of the Selective Service System.

History[edit]

The previous iteration of the Selective Service System was established by the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. After two extensions, the Selective Training and Service Act was allowed to expire on March 31, 1947. In 1948, it was replaced by a new and distinct Selective Service System established by this Act. The Selective Service Act of 1948 was originally intended to remain in effect for two years (i.e., until June 24, 1950), but was extended multiple times, usually immediately before its two-year period of effectiveness was due to expire.

The act has had amendments, extensions, and changes of name since 1948, including:

  • Extended until July 9, 1950 by Pub.L. 81–572, 64 Stat. 254, enacted June 23, 1950
  • Extended until July 9, 1951 by Pub.L. 81–599, 64 Stat. 318, enacted June 30, 1950
  • Change of name to the Universal Military Training and Service Act and extended until July 1, 1953 by Pub.L. 82–51, 65 Stat. 75, enacted June 19, 1951
  • Amended by Pub.L. 82–461, 66 Stat. 440, enacted July 7, 1952
  • Extended until July 1, 1955 by Pub.L. 83–84, 67 Stat. 86, enacted June 29, 1953
  • Extended until July 1, 1959 by Pub.L. 84–118, 69 Stat. 223, enacted June 30, 1955
  • Amended by Pub.L. 84–146, 69 Stat. 295, enacted July 12, 1955
  • Amended by Pub.L. 84–665, 70 Stat. 509, enacted July 9, 1956
  • Amended by Pub.L. 85–62, 71 Stat. 206, enacted June 26, 1957
  • Amended by Pub.L. 85–564, 72 Stat. 424, enacted July 28, 1958
  • Extended until July 1, 1963 by Pub.L. 86–4, 73 Stat. 13, enacted March 23, 1959
  • Amended by Pub.L. 86–632, 74 Stat. 467, enacted July 12, 1960
  • Amended by Pub.L. 87–391, 75 Stat. 821, enacted October 4, 1961
  • Amended by Pub.L. 87–536, 76 Stat. 167, enacted July 18, 1962
  • Extended until July 1, 1967 by Pub.L. 88–2, 77 Stat. 4, enacted March 28, 1963
  • Amended by Pub.L. 88–110, 77 Stat. 134, enacted September 3, 1963
  • Amended by Pub.L. 88–360, 78 Stat. 296, enacted July 7, 1964
  • Amended by Pub.L. 89–152, 79 Stat. 586, enacted August 30, 1965
  • Change of name to the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 and extension until July 1, 1971 by Pub.L. 90–40, 81 Stat. 100, enacted June 30, 1967
  • Amended by Pub.L. 90–491, 82 Stat. 790, enacted August 17, 1968
  • Amended by Pub.L. 91–124, 83 Stat. 220, enacted November 26, 1969
  • Change of name to the Military Selective Service Act and extension until July 1, 1973 by Pub.L. 92–129, 85 Stat. 348, enacted September 28, 1971

In 2019, U.S. District Court in Southern Texas Judge Gray Miller ruled in National Coalition for Men v. Selective Service System that exempting women from the male-only draft was unconstitutional.[1] This ruling was later reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit,[2][3] and the case was declined by the US Supreme Court.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Somin, Ilya (2019-02-24). "Federal Court Rules Male-Only Draft Registration Is Unconstitutional - Volokh Conspiracy". Reason.com. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  2. ^ National Coalition for Men vs. Selective Service System, No. 19-20272 (5th Cir. 2020-08-13).
  3. ^ McGill, Kevin (2019-08-13). "Federal appeals court: Male-only draft is constitutional". Associated Press.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "National Coalition For Men, et al., Petitioners v. Selective Service System, et al". Supreme Court of the United States. 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-02-06.

See also[edit]

  • Selective Service System
  • Conscription in the United States
  • Military Selective Service Act (PDF/details) as amended in the GPO Statute Compilations collection

What does the Selective Service Act mean for the US army apex?

The act required all men in the U.S. between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service. Within a few months, some 10 million men across the country had registered in response to the military draft.

What was the significance of the Selective Service Act?

By registering all eligible men, Selective Service ensures a fair and equitable draft, if ever required. Exemptions and deferments apply only in the event of a draft.

What was the Selective Service Act and how did it impact the war?

The Selective Service Act, signed by Pres. Woodrow Wilson on May 18, 1917, created the Selective Service System, which managed the induction of some 2.8 million men into the armed forces over the next two years and abolished the much maligned bounty system.

How did Americans respond to the Selective Service Act?

Americans were excited about the Selective Service Act and very willing to sign up if they met the requirements for the act.