Skip to content
martial law

File:T-55A_Martial_law_Poland.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ715625· pop 77· linked from 2,691 articles

martial law

Sign in to save

imposition of direct military control of a government

AI overview

Martial law is when the military takes direct control of a government, usually during emergencies like wars, natural disasters, or civil unrest. It matters because it typically suspends normal civilian laws and rights, giving military authorities broad power to enforce order.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Subclass of
legal act
Image
T-55A Martial law Poland.jpg
Show 4 more facts
Commons category
Martial law
topic's main category
Category:Martial law
different from
marriage law
on focus list of Wikimedia project
Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4
Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~40 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties may be suspended for as long as martial law continues. Most often, martial law is declared in times of war or emergencies such as civil unrest and natural disasters. Alternatively, martial law may be declared in instances of military coups d'état.

Overview

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “martial law” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (6)