A court-martial is a military court that conducts trials for members of the armed forces accused of violating military law. It is governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in the United States. Court-martials can address various offenses, ranging from minor infractions to serious crimes, and they ensure that military personnel are held accountable for their actions. There are three types of court-martials: summary, special, and general. A summary court-martial handles minor offenses and is typically less formal, while a special court-martial deals with more serious charges but is still less severe than a general court-martial, which can impose the harshest penalties, including imprisonment and dishonorable discharge.