Responsibilities of the Selective Service System
The Selective Service System is responsible for:
- Registering all male U.S. citizens and male noncitizens residing in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 25.
- Classifying registrants into categories of availability for military service.
- Selecting and inducting registrants into military service if necessary.
The SSS does not have the authority to draft people into military service. Congress must declare war or pass a law authorizing the draft before the SSS can begin inducting registrants.
History of the Selective Service System
The Selective Service System was created by the Selective Service Act of 1917, which was passed in response to the United States' entry into World War I. The SSS has been responsible for administering the military draft during all of the United States' major conflicts since World War I, including World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Selective Service Act of 1980, which reinstated mandatory registration for men aged 18 and older and established a system for classifying registrants by sex and physical fitness. In 1993, the Department of Defense announced that women would be allowed to serve in all military positions, and the Selective Service Act was amended to include women in the registration process.
Today, the Selective Service System maintains a database of over 32 million registrants. In the event of a national emergency, the SSS would work with the U.S. Department of Defense to select and induct registrants into military service.
Controversies Surrounding the Selective Service System
The Selective Service System has been the subject of controversy since its inception. Critics argue that the draft is unfair because it discriminates against young men, and that it violates the Fifth Amendment right to due process. Proponents of the SSS argue that it is necessary to ensure that the United States has the military personnel it needs to defend the country.
In recent years, there have been several attempts to repeal the Selective Service System. However, these efforts have failed, and the SSS remains in place.