Selective Service Act Definition. 76, enacted may 18, 1917) authorized the federal government to raise a national army for the american entry into world war i through conscription.it was envisioned in december 1916 and brought to president woodrow wilson's attention shortly after the break in relations with germany in february 1917. According to 5 cfr 300.703 [title 5 administrative personnel;
Chapter i office of personnel management; The legislation under which this agency operates is the military selective service act, 50 u.s.c. President the power to draft soldiers.
However, if a man joins the military after turning 18 or leaves the military before turning 26, he must register.
The act required all men ages 21 to 30 to register for military service at local polling stations. Military service since the civil war. The selective service act of 1917 was the first act which mandates the u.s. This selective service act required that men who had reached their 21st birthday but had not yet reached their 36th birthday register with local draft boards.