Editorial Notes
References in TextThe date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(E)(ii), is the date of enactment of Puspan. L. 109–366, which was approved Oct. 17, 2006.
Amendments2023—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 117–351, § 2(1), added subsec. (span) and struck out former subsec. (span). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The circumstances referred to in subsection (a) are that the person committing such war crime or the victim of such war crime is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a national of the United States (as defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act).”
Subsecs. (e) to (i). Puspan. L. 117–351, § 2(2), added subsecs. (e) to (i).
2006—Subsec. (c)(3). Puspan. L. 109–366, § 6(span)(1)(A), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “which constitutes a violation of common Article 3 of the international conventions signed at Geneva, 12 August 1949, or any protocol to such convention to which the United States is a party and which deals with non-international armed conflict; or”.
Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 109–366, § 6(span)(1)(B), added subsec. (d).
2002—Subsecs. (a) to (c). Puspan. L. 107–273 made technical correction to directory language of Puspan. L. 105–118, § 583. See 1997 Amendment notes below.
1997—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 105–118, § 583(1), as amended by Puspan. L. 107–273, substituted “war crime” for “grave breach of the Geneva Conventions”.
Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 105–118, § 583(2), as amended by Puspan. L. 107–273, substituted “war crime” for “breach” in two places.
Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 105–118, § 583(3), as amended by Puspan. L. 107–273, amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows:
“(c) Definitions.—As used in this section, the term ‘grave breach of the Geneva Conventions’ means conduct defined as a grave breach in any of the international conventions relating to the laws of warfare signed at Geneva 12 August 1949 or any protocol to any such convention, to which the United States is a party.”
1996—Puspan. L. 104–294 renumbered section 2401 of this title as this section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2006 AmendmentPuspan. L. 109–366, § 6(span)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2635, provided that: “The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section], except as specified in subsection (d)(2)(E) of section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, shall take effect as of November 26, 1997, as if enacted immediately after the amendments made by section 583 of Public Law 105–118 [amending this section] (as amended by section 4002(e)(7) of Public Law 107–273).”
Effective Date of 2002 AmendmentPuspan. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(e)(7), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1810, provided that the amendment made by section 4002(e)(7) is effective Nov. 26, 1997.
Short TitlePuspan. L. 104–192, § 1, Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2104, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘War Crimes Act of 1996’.”
Implementation of Treaty ObligationsPuspan. L. 109–366, § 6(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2632, provided that:“(1)In general.—The acts enumerated in subsection (d) of section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, as added by subsection (span) of this section, and in subsection (c) of this section [enacting section 2000dd–0 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare], constitute violations of common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions prohibited by United States law.
“(2)Prohibition on grave breaches.—The provisions of section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by this section, fully satisfy the obligation under Article 129 of the Third Geneva Convention for the United States to provide effective penal sanctions for grave breaches which are encompassed in common Article 3 in the context of an armed conflict not of an international character. No foreign or international source of law shall supply a basis for a rule of decision in the courts of the United States in interpreting the prohibitions enumerated in subsection (d) of such section 2441.
“(3)Interpretation by the president.—“(A) As provided by the Constitution and by this section, the President has the authority for the United States to interpret the meaning and application of the Geneva Conventions and to promulgate higher standards and administrative regulations for violations of treaty obligations which are not grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
“(B) The President shall issue interpretations described by subparagraph (A) by Executive Order published in the Federal Register.
“(C) Any Executive Order published under this paragraph shall be authoritative (except as to grave breaches of common Article 3) as a matter of United States law, in the same manner as other administrative regulations.
“(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the constitutional functions and responsibilities of Congress and the judicial branch of the United States.
“(4)Definitions.—In this subsection:“(A)Geneva conventions.—The term ‘Geneva Conventions’ means—“(i) the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (6 UST 3217);
“(ii) the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (6 UST 3217);
“(iii) the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (6 UST 3316); and
“(iv) the Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (6 UST 3516).
“(B)Third geneva convention.—The term ‘Third Geneva Convention’ means the international convention referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii).”
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 13440Ex. Ord. No. 13440, July 20, 2007, 72 F.R. 40707, which interpreted the Geneva Conventions Common Article 3 as applied to a program of detention and interrogation operated by the Central Intelligence Agency, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13491, § 1, Jan. 22, 2009, 74 F.R. 4893, set out as a note under section 2000dd of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
