Us Code § 261 - During war or threat to national security
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 261 — During war or threat to national security, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 261. During war or threat to national security
(a) The President, through any agency of the Department of Defense designated by him, may arm, have armed, or allow to be armed, any watercraft or aircraft that is capable of being used as a means of transportation on, over, or under water, and is documented, registered, or licensed under the laws of the United States.
(b) This section applies during a war and at any other time when the President determines that the security of the United States is threatened by the application, or the imminent danger of application, of physical force by any foreign government or agency against the United States, its citizens, the property of its citizens, or their commercial interests.
(c) Section 16 of the Act of March 4, 1909 (22 U.S.C. 463) does not apply to vessels armed under this section.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 16, §351; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §511(12), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2921; renumbered §261, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, §1241(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2497.)
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 351(a) | 50:481 (1st sentence, less 1st 7 words). | June 29, 1948, ch. 715, 62 Stat. 1095. |
| 351(b) | 50:481 (1st 7 words of 1st sentence and 2d sentence). | |
| 351(c) | 50:481 (less 1st and 2d sentences). |
In subsection (a), the wording of the special definition of "vessel" and "American vessel", contained in section 16 of the Neutrality Act of 1939, 54 Stat. 12 (22 U.S.C. 456), is substituted for the words "any American vessel as defined in the Neutrality Act of 1939".
In subsection (b), the words "or national emergency" are omitted, since the words of the source statute defining that term have been substituted for it.
In subsection (c), the words "(relating to bonds from armed vessels on clearing)" are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 261 was renumbered section 241 of this title.
Another prior section 261, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 10, which named the reserve components of the armed forces, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994. See sections 10101 and 10213 of this title.
Prior sections 262 to 265 were repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994.
Section 262, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 10; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, §2(5), 81 Stat. 521, related to purpose of reserve components. See section 10102 of this title.
Section 263, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 11, related to basic policy for ordering Army National Guard of the United States and Air National Guard of the United States into Federal service. See section 10103 of this title.
Section 264, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 11; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, §2(6), 81 Stat. 521; Nov. 19, 1969, Pub. L. 91–121, title III, §303, 83 Stat. 206; Oct. 20, 1978, Pub. L. 95–485, title IV, §406(a), 92 Stat. 1616; Oct. 19, 1984, Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, §1405(7)(A), (B), 98 Stat. 2622, authorized Secretaries of each armed force to designate officers to be responsible for reserve affairs and assigned responsibility for providing personnel and logistic support for reserves. See sections 10203 and 18501 of this title.
Section 265, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 11, related to participation of reserve officers in preparation and administration of policies and regulations affecting reserve components. See section 10211 of this title.
Prior section 266 was renumbered section 12643 of this title.
Prior sections 267 to 270 were repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994.
Section 267, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 12, related to placement and status of members of Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, and Retired Reserve. See section 10141(a), (b) of this title.
Section 268, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 12; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, §1(3), 72 Stat. 1437; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, §2(8), 81 Stat. 522; Oct. 12, 1982, Pub. L. 97–295, §1(5), 96 Stat. 1289, related to composition, organization, and structure of Ready Reserve. See sections 10142 and 10143 of this title.
Section 269, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 12; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, §1(4), 72 Stat. 1437; June 30, 1960, Pub. L. 86–559, §1(2)(A), 74 Stat. 264; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, §2(9), 81 Stat. 522; Oct. 20, 1978, Pub. L. 95–485, title IV, §405(a)(1), 92 Stat. 1615; Sept. 24, 1983, Pub. L. 98–94, title X, §1018, 97 Stat. 669; Sept. 29, 1988, Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, §1234(a)(1), 102 Stat. 2059, related to placement in and transfer from Ready Reserve. See sections 10145 and 10146 of this title.
Section 270, added Pub. L. 85–861, §1(5)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1438; amended Pub. L. 87–378, §2, Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 88–110, §4, Sept. 3, 1963, 77 Stat. 136; Pub. L. 90–168, §2(10), Dec. 1, 1967, 81 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 92–156, title III, §303(a), Nov. 17, 1971, 85 Stat. 425; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §511(7), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2920; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, §1234(a)(2), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title V, §501(b), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1435, related to training requirements of Ready Reserve. See sections 10147 and 10148 of this title.
Amendments
2016—Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 351 of this title as this section.
1980—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted "Section 16 of the Act of March 4, 1909 (22 U.S.C. 463)" for "Section 463 of title 22".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment 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.
CHAPTER 15—MILITARY SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior chapter 15, consisting of sections 331 to 335, was renumbered chapter 13, and sections 331 to 335 were renumbered sections 251 to 255, respectively.
Amendments
2016—Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, §1011(a)(2), title XII, §1241(a)(1), (o)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2385, 2497, 2512, added item 384, renumbered chapter 18 of this title "MILITARY SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES" as chapter 15, redesignated item 371 "Use of information collected during military operations" as item 271, redesignated item 372 "Use of military equipment and facilities" as item 272, redesignated item 373 "Training and advising civilian law enforcement officials" as item 273, redesignated item 374 "Maintenance and operation of equipment" as item 274, redesignated item 375 "Restriction on direct participation by military personnel" as item 275, redesignated item 376 "Support not to affect adversely military preparedness" as item 276, redesignated item 377 "Reimbursement" as item 277, redesignated item 378 "Nonpreemption of other law" as item 278, redesignated item 379 "Assignment of Coast Guard personnel to naval vessels for law enforcement purposes" as item 279, redesignated item 380 "Enhancement of cooperation with civilian law enforcement officials" as item 280, redesignated item 381 "Procurement of equipment by State and local governments through the Department of Defense: equipment for counter-drug, homeland security, and emergency response activities" as item 281, redesignated item 382 "Emergency situations involving weapons of mass destruction" as item 282, redesignated item 383 "Situations involving bombings of places of public use, Government facilities, public transportation systems, and infrastructure facilities" as item 283, and redesignated item 384 "Support for counterdrug activities and activities to counter transnational organized crime" as item 284.
2015—Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, §1082(b), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1003, added item 383.
2011—Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(b)(10)(C), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4369, added item 382 and struck out former item 382 "Emergency situations involving chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction".
2008—Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, §885(b)(2), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4561, added item 381 and struck out former item 381 "Procurement by State and local governments of law enforcement equipment suitable for counter-drug activities through the Department of Defense".
1996—Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XIV, §1416(a)(2), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2723, added item 382.
1993—Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, §1122(a)(2), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1755, added item 381.
1989—Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XII, §1216(a), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1569, in chapter heading substituted "18" for "8".
1988—Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XI, §1104(a), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2043, amended chapter analysis generally substituting, in chapter heading "CHAPTER 8—MILITARY SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES" for "CHAPTER 18—MILITARY COOPERATION WITH CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS", in item 374 "Maintenance and operation of equipment" for "Assistance by Department of Defense personnel", in item 376 "Support not to affect adversely military preparedness" for "Assistance not to affect adversely military preparedness" and in item 380 "Enhancement of cooperation with civilian law enforcement officials" for "Department of Defense drug law enforcement assistance: annual plan".
1987—Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XII, §1243(b), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1164, added item 380.
1986—Pub. L. 99–570, title III, §3053(b)(2), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–76, added item 379.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Department of Defense Authority To Provide Assistance To Secure the Southern Land Border of the United States
Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, §1059, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 986, as amended by Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, §1056(a), (b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3855, which authorized Department of Defense to provide assistance to secure the southern land border of the United States, was transferred by Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, §1056(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3856, and is set out as a note under section 284 of this title.
About This Section
10 U.S.C. § 261 is part of Title 10 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
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