Military Justice Amendments of 1981
Public Law 97-81 · H.R. 4792 · 97th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 20, 1981 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. William Nichols (D-AL-3)
Cosponsors (12): Rep. Donald Mitchell, Rep. Sonny Montgomery,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Military Justice Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to state that a member of an armed force receiving a sentence from a court-martial which includes an unsuspended dismissal or bad-conduct discharge may be required to take leave pending completion of the action. Makes such leave chargeable against accrued or excess leave. Precludes the accrual or reception of pay or allowances during involuntary leave. Excludes such persons from the right to reemployment of inducted persons. Exempts such persons from the restriction on off-post civilian employment.
Requires payment for leave charged as excess leave, minus earnings received during such leave, whenever such a sentence is set aside or disapproved by a Court of Military Review or the United States Court of Military Appeals. Prohibits punishment before trial without regard to the effective date of sentences. Permits the accused to be represented by more than one military counsel only as specified.
Extends from 30 to 60 days the period during which an accused may petition the Court of Military Appeals for review of a decision of a Court of Military Review. Requires an application for modification or vacation of a sentence or findings in a court-martial case which has been finally reviewed, but not reviewed by a Court of Military Review, to be made within two years of sentencing.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 9 actions.
- Nov 20, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-81.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 12, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 5, 1981FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Nov 4, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Oct 29, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Oct 22, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Armed Services Committee
- Oct 20, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.