Which is the highest form of court-martial?

• A. Summary
• B. Constitutional
• C. Special
• D. General

Answer: (D)

The highest form is the general court-martial. In the military justice system, there are three levels: summary, special, and general. Summary court-martial handles minor offenses and is presided over by a single officer with limited punishments. Special court-martial addresses more serious offenses than summary and involves a judge and a smaller panel. General court-martial sits for the most serious offenses, uses a military judge plus a panel of service members, and can impose the full range of punishments authorized by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including the most severe penalties. So, among the options, the general court-martial is the one with the broadest authority and the most serious scope.