The Posse Comitatus Act restricts the role of the U.S. military in enforcing domestic laws in the United States.
October 08, 2025
high
legal
Federal statute limiting use of military forces for domestic law enforcement operations.
The Posse Comitatus Act limits the U.S. military's role in enforcing domestic laws.
October 07, 2025
high
legal
U.S. federal law constraining domestic use of military forces.
The Posse Comitatus Act, enacted in 1878, limits the U.S. military's role in enforcing domestic civil laws.
June 18, 1878
high
legal
Federal statutory restriction on use of federal military forces in domestic law enforcement.
The Insurrection Act operates as a statutory exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits federal troops from conducting civilian law enforcement.
January 01, 1807
high
temporal
Explains the legal relationship between the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act regarding domestic use of federal forces.
The Posse Comitatus Act is a longstanding United States federal law that generally prohibits the use of the U.S. military for domestic civilian policing.
high
legal
Defines a statutory limitation on military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
The Posse Comitatus Act restricts the U.S. military from carrying out domestic law enforcement actions, although there are statutory exceptions and other legal authorities that can permit military involvement.
high
legal
Describes the general statutory limitation on using active-duty military for domestic policing.
When National Guard personnel are operating under Title 32 of federal law, they are under state control and are not subject to the Posse Comitatus Act's restrictions on federal military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
high
legal
Explains the legal status of National Guard forces when federal funds authorize state control under Title 32.