WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services › Chapter 1

37 U.S.C. 101: Definitions

Created in 1962 by Public Law 87-649. Changed by 20 later laws. 1 new law this Congress changed it.

21 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 2 U.S.C. 906, 5 U.S.C. 3326, 5 U.S.C. 3501, 5 U.S.C. 5531, 5 U.S.C. 6323.

2 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Office of the Secretary of Commerce (1), Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services (1).

This Congress

  • S. 1071 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 · became law · changed (27)

How it got here

2021

  • Pub. L. 116–283, §925(a)(1), inserted "Space Force," after "Marine Corps,". (William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021) Law text · (3), (4)
  • Pub. L. 116–283, §925(a)(2), which directed insertion of "and the Space Force" after "Air Force", was executed by making the insertion after "Air Force" the second place appearing, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. (William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021) Law text · (5)

2006

  • Pub. L. 109–163 substituted "Navy Reserve" for "Naval Reserve". (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006) Law text · (24)

2002

  • Pub. L. 107–314 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). (Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003) Law text · (1)
  • Pub. L. 107–296 substituted "of Homeland Security" for "of Transportation". (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (5)

2001

  • Pub. L. 107–107 inserted "(except as provided in section 206(d)(2) of this title)" after "but" in concluding provisions. (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002) Law text · (22)

1998

  • Pub. L. 105–261 struck out "the Canal Zone," after "includes". (Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999) Law text · (2)

1997

  • Pub. L. 105–85 substituted "basic allowance for housing" for "basic allowance for quarters (including any variable housing allowance or station housing allowance)". (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998) Law text · (25)

1993

  • Pub. L. 103–160 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 102–484. See 1992 Amendment note below. · (26)

1992

  • Pub. L. 102–484, as amended by Pub. L. 103–160, substituted "section 101 of title 10" for "section 101(47) of title 10". · (26)

1991

  • Pub. L. 102–190 added par. (26). · (26)

1988

  • Pub. L. 100–456 substituted "Secretary" for "secretary" in introductory provisions. · (5)

1987

  • Pub. L. 100–26, §8(e)(1)(A), substituted "the following definitions apply in this title:" for "for the purposes of this title—".
  • Pub. L. 100–26, §8(e)(1)(B), inserted "The term" at beginning of pars. (1) to (25).
  • Pub. L. 100–26, §8(e)(1)(C), which directed that this section be amended by revising first word after open quotation marks in each paragraph (other than par. (1) and (6) through (10)) so that initial letter of such word is lowercase, was executed to par. (5) only because specified words in other pa…
  • Pub. L. 100–26, §8(e)(1)(D), (E), which directed a period be substituted for the semicolon at end of pars. (1) to (24) and that "and" be struck out at end of par. (24), was executed by making the substitution in pars. (1) to (23) and by striking "and" at end of par. (23), to reflect the probable in…

1984

  • Cl. (18). Pub. L. 98–525 inserted "full-time National Guard duty," after "annual training duty,".

1980

  • Cls. (3), (5)(E). Pub. L. 96–513, §516(1)(A), substituted "National Oceanic and Atmospheric" for "Environmental Science Services". · (5)
  • Cl. (5)(F). Pub. L. 96–513, §516(1)(B), substituted "Health and Human Services" for "Health, Education, and Welfare".
  • Cls. (7), (9). Pub. L. 96–600 inserted references to Guam. · (9)
  • Cl. (18). Pub. L. 96–513, §506(1), struck out "duty on the active list," after "and includes".
  • Cl. (25). Pub. L. 96–579 defined "regular compensation" or "regular military compensation (RMC)" to include with respect to basic allowance for quarters any variable housing allowance or station housing allowance.

1974

  • Cl. (25). Pub. L. 93–419 added cl. (25).

1972

  • Cls. (7), (9). Pub. L. 92–492 inserted references to Virgin Islands. · (9)

1968

  • Cl. (5)(D). Pub. L. 90–623 substituted "Secretary of Transportation" for "Secretary of the Treasury".

1966

  • Cls. (3), (5)(E). Pub. L. 89–718 substituted "Environmental Science Services Administration" for "Coast and Geodetic Survey". · (5)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.