Foreign policy & defense
Selective Service
The system requiring nearly all men aged eighteen to twenty-five to register for a potential draft. Registration is required; no one has been drafted since 1973.
In full
Registration is a legal obligation, and failure can affect eligibility for federal student aid, job training, and some federal employment. Reinstating a draft would require an act of Congress. Whether the requirement should extend to women, now that all combat roles are open, has been litigated and referred to Congress.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.