What You Need to Know About the National Guard, the Insurrection Act, and Martial Law

What You Need to Know About the National Guard, the Insurrection Act, and Martial Law

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Blog Post

How far can a president go in using military force on US soil?

In moments of political uncertainty, concepts like the Insurrection Act or “martial law” can feel abstract — until they don’t. Given the current administration’s recent federal deployment of the National Guard in California and federal takeover of Washington, DC, many are wondering: what is martial law? Does the president have the right to use military force in our cities? Are we on the brink of something more dangerous?

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LWVUS Blog 9/10/2025

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Rhode Island