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Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect (usually after a formal declaration) when a particular situation requires that a military authority take control of the normal administration of justice (and usually of the whole state).
Martial law is instituted most often when it becomes necessary to favour the activity of military authorities and organizations, usually for urgent unforeseen needs, and when the normal institutions of justice either cannot function or could be deemed too slow or too weak for the new situation, i.e. due to war or civil disorder, in occupied territory, or after a coup d'etat. The need to preserve the public order during an emergency is the essential goal of martial law.
Usually martial law reduces some of the personal rights ordinarily granted to the citizen, limits the length of the trial processes, and prescribes more severe penalties than ordinary law. In many countries martial law prescribes the death penalty for certain crimes, even if ordinary law doesn't contain that crime in its system.
In many countries martial law imposes particular rules, one of which is curfew. Often, under this system, the administration of justice is left to military tribunals, called courts-martial. The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus is likely to occur.
In United States law, martial law is limited by several court decisions handed down during the American Civil War and World War 2. In Ex Parte Milligan 71 US 2 1866, the United States Supreme Court held that martial law could not be instituted within the United States when its civilian courts are in operation.
In Canada in 1970, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act in response to a terrorist-led kidnapping incident called the October Crisis which imposed a variant of martial law on the country.
On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1081 declaring martial law in the Philippines after a series of bombings and civil strife perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines. By virtue of Proclamation No. 2045, martial law was lifted on January 17, 1981.
Martial law was introduced in Poland by the Communist regime on December 13, 1981 to prevent democratic movements (such as Solidarity) from gaining popularity and attendant political power in the country. Many democratic leaders, including Lech Walesa, were imprisoned. This state of affairs lasted until 1983. After the downfall of Communism in Europe it was determined that martial law had been declared in clear violation of Poland's constitution. It authorised the Council of State to declare martial law only between parliamentary sessions. The parliament had been in session when martial law was instituted.
Martial law existed in Taiwan, under the name of the "Period of Mobilization for Suppression of Communist Rebellion" from April 18, 1948 to May 1, 1991. It allowed for the Nationalist government, led by Chiang Kai-shek and his successors, to utilize dictatorial powers. This 43-year period is considered the longest period of martial law in international history. The USA has been in a declared state of national emergency since 9 March 1933. (see Senate Report 93-549)
The most recent known case of martial law is in the Republic of Korea. The United States Army imposed a midnight to five A.M. curfew on all Department of Defense civilians, contractors, and dependents in United States Forces Korea(USFK) General Order 190-2, initially issued on September 23, 2004. This order has not been recinded to date and is currently undergoing a congressional inquiry to determine it's legality.
See also: military law, Military rule, state of emergency.
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