---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 888"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "888"
heading: "Art. 88. Contempt toward officials"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/888"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 47 — Uniform Code of Military Justice"
  - "Subchapter X — Punitive Articles"
---

# §888. Art. 88. Contempt toward officials


Any [commissioned officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4), Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.


## Source credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 67; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(25), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2922; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(3), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3440.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 888 | 50:682. | May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 88), 64 Stat. 135. |

The word “commissioned” is inserted for clarity. The words “the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession” are substituted for the words “Vice President, Congress, Secretary of Defense, or a Secretary of a Department, a Governor or a legislature of any State, Territory, or other possession of the United States”.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2006—Pub. L. 109–163 struck out “Territory,” after “State,”.

2002—Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Secretary of Homeland Security” for “Secretary of Transportation”.

1980—Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of the Treasury”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

### 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.