What is a significant characteristic of military commissions?

Military commissions are specifically designed to address unlawful combatants, which distinguishes them from standard legal courts. This characteristic arises from the need to handle cases that may not fit within the conventional military justice system or civilian legal frameworks. Unlawful combatants, who engage in hostilities without the protections of lawful combatancy status, pose unique challenges regarding legal jurisdiction and rights. Military commissions provide a venue where these individuals can be tried for offenses related to their status, such as terrorism or violations of the laws of war, thereby ensuring that there is a mechanism to address actions taken against the United States and its interests in a manner that is legally recognized and structured for such cases.

Other characteristics mentioned, like the openness of the trials or participation of non-military personnel, do not typically define military commissions. They often involve closed proceedings and do not include standard civilian judicial participants, as their structure is tailored to military operations and security concerns. Additionally, the focus on administrative military disputes pertains to matters resolved through military justice rather than the unique categories of offenses military commissions are intended to handle.