
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 36USC21703]

 
     TITLE 36--PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND 
                              ORGANIZATIONS
 
            Subtitle II--Patriotic and National Organizations
 
                          Part B--Organizations
 
                    CHAPTER 217--THE AMERICAN LEGION
 
Sec. 21703. Membership

    An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation only if 
the individual--
        (1) has served in the Armed Forces of--
            (A) the United States at any time during any period from--
                (i) April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918;
                (ii) December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946;
                (iii) June 25, 1950, through January 31, 1955;
                (iv) February 28, 1961, through May 7, 1975;
                (v) August 24, 1982, through July 31, 1984;
                (vi) December 20, 1989, through January 31, 1990; or
                (vii) August 2, 1990, through the date of cessation of 
            hostilities, as decided by the United States Government; or

            (B) a government associated with the United States during a 
        period referred to in subclause (A) of this clause and was a 
        citizen of the United States when the individual entered that 
        service; and

        (2) was honorably discharged or separated from that service or 
    continues to serve honorably after that period.

(Pub. L. 105-225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1297; Pub. L. 105-354, 
Sec. 1(6), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3244.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
                                                 Pub. L. 105-225
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
21703.................................  36:45.                           Sept. 
16, 1919, ch. 59, Sec.  5, 41
                                                                          Stat.
 285; Oct. 29, 1942, ch. 633,
                                                                          Sec. 
 2, 56 Stat. 1012; July 9, 1946,
                                                                          ch. 5
46, 60 Stat. 524; Dec. 28, 1950,
                                                                          ch. 1
177, 64 Stat. 1122; July 26,
                                                                          1955,
 ch. 386, Sec.  2, 69 Stat. 380;
                                                                          Sept.
 1, 1966, Pub. L. 89-550, Sec.
                                                                          2, 80
 Stat. 372; Dec. 27, 1974, Pub.
                                                                          L. 93
-557, 88 Stat. 1792; Aug. 17,
                                                                          1978,
 Pub. L. 95-346, 92 Stat. 485;
                                                                          Dec. 
21, 1979, Pub. L. 96-155, 93
                                                                          Stat.
 1165; Oct. 30, 1990, Pub. L. 101-
                                                                          478, 
104 Stat. 1157; Dec. 2, 1991,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 102-179, 105 Stat. 1229.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In clause (1), the words ``armed forces'' are substituted for 
``naval or military services'' and ``military or naval service'' for 
clarity. In subclause (A), the word ``through'' is substituted for ``all 
dates inclusive'' for clarity. In subclause (B), the words ``a 
government associated with the United States during a period referred to 
in subclause (A) of this clause and was a citizen of the United States 
when the individual entered that service'' are substituted for ``who, 
being a citizen of the United States at the time of entry therein . . . 
of any governments associated with the United States during said wars or 
hostilities'' for clarity.
    In clause (2), the words ``after that period'' are substituted for 
``after any of the aforesaid terminal dates'' to eliminate unnecessary 
words.


                             Pub. L. 105-354

    This amends section 21703(1)(A)(iv) of title 36 to reflect changes 
made by Public Law 105-110 (Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2270).


                               Amendments

    1998--Par. (1)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 105-354 substituted ``February 28, 
1961'' for ``December 22, 1961''.
