martial law
Soldiers governing civilians
Martial law is the temporary imposition of military authority over civilian affairs, typically during emergencies, invasions, or civil unrest.
Under martial law, military commanders may suspend ordinary legal protections, impose curfews, and detain people without trial.
The governor declared martial law after the riots.
The term often carries ominous overtones of suspended rights and military control of daily life.
Mandated return time
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
- banOfficial restriction on something
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- detentionTemporary official holding
suspension · censorship · travel ban · house arrest · media blackout · rationing · movement restrictions · surveillance
Military personnel collectively
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- armyOrganized land-based military
- tanksStorage vessels for liquids
- checkpointsInspection stations along routes
barricades · patrol · garrison · occupation · commander · general · uniform · camouflage
Organized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- civil unrestPublic disturbance by citizens
riot · revolt · turmoil · conflict · disorder · protests · clashes · state of emergency
Authoritative legal command
- edictAuthoritative public command
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- proclamationFormal public announcement
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
enforcement · command · sovereignty · governance · military tribunal · executive order · emergency powers · suspension of rights
Compelling compliance with rules
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- controlAuthority to direct
- stabilityResistance to displacement
pacification · suppression · restoration · crowd control · riot control · public order · security · containment
curfew
Mandated return time
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
- banOfficial restriction on something
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
detention · suspension · censorship · travel ban · house arrest · media blackout · rationing · movement restrictions · surveillance · roadblocks
troops
Military personnel collectively
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- armyOrganized land-based military
- tanksStorage vessels for liquids
checkpoints · barricades · patrol · garrison · occupation · commander · general · uniform · camouflage · infantry
uprising
Organized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
civil unrest · riot · revolt · turmoil · conflict · disorder · protests · clashes · state of emergency · destabilization
decree
Authoritative legal command
- edictAuthoritative public command
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- proclamationFormal public announcement
jurisdiction · enforcement · command · sovereignty · governance · military tribunal · executive order · emergency powers · suspension of rights · habeas corpus
enforcement
Compelling compliance with rules
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- controlAuthority to direct
stability · pacification · suppression · restoration · crowd control · riot control · public order · security · containment · dispersal
- Communist PolandCommunist era, People's Republic, Solidarity, Walesa, state surveillance
- war lawsEspionage Act, emergency powers, war powers, sedition laws, military justice
- military rulemilitary junta, military regime, military rule, military council, junta
- repressionsecret police, mass arrests, torture, disappearances, detention camps
- peacemakingnegotiation, mediation, peace agreement, mediate, pacifying
- restrictionsban, bans, limits, limit, restrictions
martial lawcivilian rule
Government by elected officials
democracy · democratic governance · constitutional government · representative government · self-governance
martial lawpeacetime
Absence of armed conflict
normalcy · peace · stability · civil law · habeas corpus
martial lawcivil liberties
Rights limiting government power
freedom of assembly · freedom of movement · open society · free press · individual rights