Military Selective Service Act

United States [1967]

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July 23, 2026

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The Military Selective Service Act of 1967, a U.S. federal law, aimed to rationalize the deferment system for conscription. This act was a response to growing public resistance to the draft during the Vietnam War, fueled by perceived inconsistencies and inequities in deferment processes. While the legislation sought to improve the system, it did not quell anti-war sentiment, leading to protests such as the destruction of draft cards. The Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. O'Brien (1968) addressed the legality of such protests, impacting symbolic speech protections. The draft was eventually suspended in 1973, leading to an all-volunteer military.123

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Selective Service Acts
The resulting legislation, the Military Selective Service Act of 1967, rationalized the deferment system, but it did little to stifle public resistance to the draft. Increasingly, opponents of the war had taken to destroying their Selective Service registration certificates (draft cards) as statements of public protest. While protestors asserted…
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The resulting legislation, the Military Selective Service Act of 1967, rationalized the deferment system, but it did little to stifle public resistance to the draft. Increasingly, opponents of the war had taken to destroying their Selective Service registration certificates (draft cards) as statements of public protest. While protestors asserted…
Read More