
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC351]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle A--General Military Law
 
            PART I--ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
 
                 CHAPTER 17--ARMING OF AMERICAN VESSELS
 
Sec. 351. 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; Pub. L. 96-513, title V, 
Sec. 511(12), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2921.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
            Revised section                      Source (U.S. Code)            
   Source (Statutes at Large)
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---------------------------------
351(a)................................  50:481 (1st sentence, less 1st 7     Ju
ne 29, 1948, ch. 715, 62 Stat.
                                         words).                              1
095.
351(b)................................  50:481 (1st 7 words of 1st sentence
                                         and 2d sentence).
351(c)................................  50:481 (less 1st and 2d sentences).
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---------------------------------

    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.


                               Amendments

    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''.


                    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.
