# Differences from [[Martial Law]] - **Martial Law** involves military control over civilian functions and suspension of civil liberties. It is **not defined or authorized by federal law** and is considered unconstitutional in most scenarios. It has **not been declared nationally in U.S. history**. - **The Insurrection Act** is a **federal law** dating back to 1807 that allows the **President to deploy U.S. military and National Guard** to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion. It does **not suspend civil liberties**. - The Insurrection Act has been invoked dozens of times historically, including during the 1992 LA riots and desegregation crises in the South. - Trump considered invoking the Insurrection Act during the 2020 George Floyd protests. Some allies have suggested he might do so again if re-elected, especially to address perceived unrest or opposition. - Legal scholars warn that invoking martial law would likely be **unconstitutional**, while the Insurrection Act remains **legally valid but politically and socially volatile**.