Who is responsible for determining the type of court-martial to award?

• A. Accuser
• B. Accused
• C. Executive Officer
• D. Commanding Officer

Answer: (D)

The person who decides the type of court-martial is the convening authority, typically the Commanding Officer. In military justice, the CO has the authority to order a court-m Martial and to specify what kind of court will hear the case—summary for minor offenses, special for certain offenses with more formal procedures, or general for serious offenses with the broader range of penalties. The accuser or the accused do not make this determination, and the Executive Officer only acts as convening authority if specifically empowered to do so. So the commanding officer is the correct choice because they hold the authority to determine the court-martial type based on the offense and circumstances.