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Title 10 — Armed ForcesThis title codifies the limited federal law governing the national defense establishment of the Union of Columbia. Consistent with the States Compact and the principle of state sovereignty, the federal defense function emphasizes coordination, standards, and mobilization authority, while preserving the primary role of the States and their militias. Note: The Union of Columbia does not maintain a separate uniform criminal code for military members. Criminal offenses are prosecuted under Title 18 (federal-only offenses) or under State law, as applicable. Chapters
Chapter 101 — Bureau of Defense: Organization and Authorities§ 10101. Establishment; purpose
(a) Establishment. The Bureau of Defense is established as the principal federal bureau for national defense and the administration of federal defense assets, subject to the Constitution and States Compact.
(b) Purpose. The Bureau exists to (1) maintain a limited standing defense capability; (2) coordinate with State militias for common defense; (3) standardize federal readiness and interoperability; and (4) protect federal defense installations, property, and communications.
(c) Limits. The Bureau may not assume general police power, regulate purely intrastate activity, or administer non-defense domestic programs, except as expressly authorized by the Compact.
§ 10102. Secretary of Defense; general powers
(a) Principal officer. The Secretary of Defense is the head of the Bureau of Defense and is responsible for civilian control of the defense establishment.
(b) General powers. The Secretary may—
(1) issue orders, regulations, and directives necessary to carry out this title;
(2) organize bureaus, offices, and commands within the Bureau of Defense consistent with law and appropriations;
(3) prescribe minimum federal standards for training, discipline, and readiness of federal forces and federalized militia units;
(4) control federal defense property, procurement, logistics, and transport; and
(5) coordinate defense planning with the Bureau of State and the Bureau of Homeland Security when missions overlap.
(c) Written delegations. Any delegation of the Secretary’s authority affecting the exercise of force, arrest authority on federal property, or activation of militia units shall be in writing and retained as an official record.
§ 10103. Chief of the Defense Staff; advisory role
(a) Appointment. The Chief of the Defense Staff is the senior uniformed advisor to the Secretary and the President for defense planning and readiness.
(b) Advisory function. The Chief—
(1) provides military advice; (2) coordinates planning among service components; and (3) reviews readiness reports and training standards.
(c) No independent command. The Chief does not exercise operational command authority except as specifically directed by the Secretary or the President.
§ 10104. Defense regulations; publication and effect
(a) Publication. Regulations of general applicability under this title shall be publicly posted or otherwise published in a manner reasonably available to the public, except for classified operational guidance.
(b) Internal directives. Directives addressed solely to federal personnel are binding as conditions of service but do not create private rights against the Union of Columbia.
(c) Consistency. Regulations shall be construed narrowly to avoid expanding federal power beyond enumerated defense functions.
Chapter 103 — Armed Forces: Establishment and Components§ 10301. Components of the armed forces
(a) Federal armed forces. The federal armed forces consist of limited service components established under the Bureau of Defense for common defense of the Union of Columbia.
(b) Service components. The Secretary may maintain the following service components as separate commands or as combined commands, as mission needs require:
(1) Union Army; (2) Union Navy; (3) Union Air Arm; and (4) Union Marine Corps.
(c) Small force principle. Service components shall be organized to minimize peacetime footprint and rely on State militia augmentation during emergencies, consistent with Chapter 105.
§ 10302. Lawful missions; prohibition on domestic general enforcement
(a) Lawful missions. Federal armed forces may be used for—
(1) national defense against external threats;
(2) protection of federal defense installations, vessels, aircraft, and personnel;
(3) limited support to civil authorities under Chapter 113; and
(4) execution of other defense missions expressly authorized by the Compact.
(b) Domestic limitation. Except as otherwise provided in this title, armed forces personnel may not perform general domestic law enforcement or routine policing of the public.
(c) Federal property exception. This section does not limit protective or security actions on federal defense property under Chapter 109.
§ 10303. Enlistment and appointment; minimum conditions
(a) Eligibility. The Secretary shall prescribe minimum eligibility conditions for enlistment and appointment in federal service, including age, fitness, and citizenship status as appropriate to security needs.
(b) Oath. All members shall take an oath to support the Constitution and Compact and to faithfully execute lawful orders.
(c) Separation. The Secretary may separate members for misconduct, unsuitability, or failure to meet readiness standards, subject to basic notice and an opportunity to respond under procedures established by regulation.
(d) No private entitlement. Nothing in this section creates a right to continued service.
§ 10304. Defense orders; compliance and accountability
(a) Lawful orders. Members shall obey lawful orders issued by competent authority within the scope of assigned duty.
(b) Unlawful orders. A member may refuse an order that is plainly unlawful on its face. The Secretary shall establish reporting channels for such refusals.
(c) Accountability. Commanders shall maintain clear written chains of responsibility for use-of-force directives, restricted area designations, and emergency activations.
Chapter 105 — Militia Coordination and Federal Activation§ 10501. Recognition of State militias; sovereignty preserved
(a) State primacy. Each State retains primary authority over its militia except when militia units are lawfully activated for federal service under this chapter.
(b) Recognition. The Bureau of Defense shall maintain a registry of State militia points-of-contact and recognized unit designations for coordination and interoperability.
(c) No standing federal control. Recognition and coordination do not create standing federal command authority over a State militia.
§ 10502. Interoperability standards; training and communications
(a) Standards. The Secretary may issue minimum interoperability standards for joint operations, including radio communications, identification, basic safety, and deconfliction procedures.
(b) Training guidance. Federal training guidance shall be limited to what is reasonably necessary for joint defense operations and shall not prescribe internal State personnel policy.
(c) Equipment compatibility. The Bureau may publish recommended equipment compatibility lists and may provide federal equipment loans under written agreements.
§ 10503. Federal activation of militia; grounds and scope
(a) Authority. The President may activate State militia units into temporary federal service when necessary to repel invasion, respond to an armed attack, protect federal defense assets, or address a declared national defense emergency.
(b) Written order. Activation shall be made by a written order stating—
(1) the activating authority and legal basis;
(2) the units activated and the expected duration;
(3) the operational mission and geographic scope; and
(4) coordination requirements with the affected State or States.
(c) Least-intrusive means. Activation orders shall be narrowly tailored to the defense purpose and shall end when the triggering conditions no longer exist.
§ 10504. Command relationships during federal service
(a) Operational control. While in federal service under § 10503, activated militia units are subject to operational control of the Bureau of Defense for the limited mission stated in the activation order.
(b) Administrative control. Unless the activation order states otherwise, States retain administrative responsibility for internal discipline, pay systems, and personnel records, subject to minimum federal readiness rules.
(c) Return to State status. Upon termination of federal service, militia units revert to State command without further action.
§ 10505. Rules of engagement; civil rights and state boundaries
(a) Rules of engagement. The Secretary shall issue mission-specific rules of engagement for federal forces and activated militia units, emphasizing necessity, proportionality, and positive identification.
(b) Respect for State jurisdiction. Federal defense operations conducted within a State shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate with State authorities and avoid unnecessary interference with State law enforcement.
(c) No general arrests. Nothing in this chapter authorizes routine civilian arrests by armed forces personnel, except in protection of federal defense property under Chapter 109 or as otherwise expressly authorized by federal law.
Chapter 107 — Reserve Avoidance and Temporary Service§ 10701. Temporary active service; short-duration call-ups
(a) Authority. The Secretary may order members of the federal armed forces to temporary active service for training, readiness certification, or emergency response consistent with this title.
(b) Duration. Temporary service shall be limited in duration and scope to the purpose stated, and may be extended only upon a written finding of necessity.
(c) Notice. The Secretary shall establish reasonable notice requirements by regulation except during emergencies requiring immediate action.
§ 10702. Standby rosters and volunteer augmentation
(a) Standby rosters. The Bureau may maintain standby rosters of qualified persons willing to volunteer for defense augmentation during declared emergencies.
(b) Screening. Persons placed on a roster shall undergo background screening appropriate to the duties and access involved.
(c) No compulsory reserve system. Nothing in this chapter creates a compulsory reserve obligation for civilians absent separate lawful authority.
§ 10703. Defense readiness certifications
(a) Certifications. The Secretary may require periodic readiness certifications for federal units and for activated militia units when assigned a federal mission.
(b) Minimum elements. Certifications may include safety checks, communications proficiency, weapons handling standards, and mission-specific tasks.
(c) Records. Certifications shall be documented and maintained as official records.
Chapter 109 — Defense Property, Installations, and Restricted Areas§ 10901. Defense property; protective jurisdiction
(a) Protective jurisdiction. The Bureau of Defense has protective jurisdiction over federal defense installations, vessels, aircraft, depots, and other property under federal control.
(b) Scope. Protective jurisdiction includes access control, screening, security patrols, and removal of trespassers, consistent with rights recognized by the Compact.
(c) Coordination. The Bureau shall coordinate with State and local authorities when a threat extends beyond federal property lines.
§ 10902. Restricted areas; designation and notice
(a) Designation. The Secretary may designate restricted areas on or near defense property when necessary to protect sensitive operations, weapons, communications, or personnel.
(b) Notice. Restricted areas shall be marked by signage or other reasonable notice describing the restriction and the authority for enforcement, except where secrecy is essential to national defense.
(c) Rules. The Secretary may prescribe rules for entry, photography, vehicle inspection, and visitor escort requirements within restricted areas.
§ 10903. Protective searches and screening on defense property
(a) Administrative screening. As a condition of entry to defense property, the Bureau may conduct administrative screening of persons, vehicles, and property for weapons, explosives, or contraband presenting a security threat.
(b) Limitations. Screening shall be reasonably related to security needs and shall not be used as a pretext for general criminal investigation unrelated to defense security.
(c) Referral to proper authority. Evidence of non-defense criminal conduct discovered during lawful screening shall be promptly referred to the appropriate bureau under Title 18 procedures.
§ 10904. Detention and transfer for offenses on defense property
(a) Detention. Defense security personnel may detain a person on defense property when there is reasonable cause to believe the person has committed (1) trespass, (2) sabotage, (3) theft of defense property, or (4) an assault posing immediate danger.
(b) Duration. Detention under this section shall be for the shortest time reasonably necessary to identify the person, secure the scene, and transfer custody to the appropriate civil authority.
(c) Use of force. Force used during detention shall be limited to what is reasonably necessary, consistent with Bureau policy and applicable law.
Chapter 111 — Defense Procurement and Domestic Preference§ 11101. Procurement authority; general rule
(a) Authority. The Secretary may procure supplies, equipment, and services necessary for defense missions, subject to appropriations and procurement regulations.
(b) Competition. Procurements shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be conducted through fair competition, with written justification for sole-source awards.
(c) Recordkeeping. Contract files shall include requirements, evaluation, award rationale, and oversight documentation.
§ 11102. Domestic preference; security and resilience
(a) Preference policy. The Bureau shall prefer domestic sources for essential defense goods when reasonably available, to reduce supply risk and strengthen resilience.
(b) Exceptions. The Secretary may waive preference when (1) domestic sources are unavailable; (2) urgent operational necessity requires immediate procurement; or (3) the waiver materially improves defense readiness.
(c) Written waiver. Waivers under this section shall be documented with a concise written finding.
§ 11103. Fraud prevention; contractor integrity
(a) Integrity clauses. Defense contracts shall include clauses requiring truthful certifications, cooperation with audits, and disclosure of conflicts of interest.
(b) Debarment. The Secretary may suspend or debar contractors for fraud, bribery, repeated nonperformance, or serious security violations, after notice and an opportunity to respond.
(c) Referral. Suspected criminal procurement fraud shall be referred for enforcement under Title 18.
Chapter 113 — Emergencies, Continuity, and Support to Civil Authorities§ 11301. National defense emergency; declaration and coordination
(a) Declaration. The President may declare a national defense emergency when necessary to respond to external attack, imminent threat, or a major incident directly affecting federal defense capability.
(b) Coordination. During a defense emergency, the Bureau of Defense shall coordinate operational support with the Bureau of Homeland Security and with affected States.
(c) Scope and duration. Emergency actions shall be narrowly tailored to defense needs and shall end when conditions no longer justify the declaration.
§ 11302. Defense support to civil authorities; limited assistance
(a) Permitted support. Upon request from a State or when federal defense assets are directly threatened, the Bureau may provide limited assistance, including:
(1) logistics and transport; (2) communications support; (3) search and rescue when defense-capable assets are available; and (4) medical evacuation in emergencies.
(b) Not law enforcement. Support under this section shall not be used to conduct routine arrests, serve warrants, or engage in general policing of civilians.
(c) Rules. The Secretary shall issue written mission orders describing the support, limits, and coordination requirements.
§ 11303. Continuity of defense operations; succession and records
(a) Continuity plans. The Secretary shall maintain continuity plans to ensure preservation of essential defense communications, command records, and succession of authority.
(b) Succession. Succession orders affecting operational command shall be in writing and updated as needed.
(c) Protection of records. Defense records necessary for continuity shall be safeguarded against loss, unauthorized disclosure, and sabotage.
Cross ReferencesRelated Titles
Title 5 — Government Organization: general federal bureau structure, delegation, and basic administrative procedure.
Title 8 — Immigration and Nationality: coordination with UCICS for border operations and maritime interdiction tasks performed by the Bureau of Homeland Security.
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure: sabotage, assault on federal officers, theft of federal property, and defense procurement fraud offenses; procedures for federal investigations and prosecutions.
Title 19 — Customs Duties (forthcoming): customs enforcement and smuggling interdiction coordination where defense assets provide limited support.
Title 39 — Postal Service (forthcoming): protection of federal mail routes and emergency logistics coordination.
This codification is intended to reflect the limited federal defense powers of the Union of Columbia and to preserve State sovereignty except where the Compact provides otherwise. |