Martial Law
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Definition
Martial Law is temporary rule by military authorities over a designated area during an emergency when civil authorities are deemed unable to function.
Background
It may be invoked in war, rebellion, disaster, or national emergency and can sharply affect movement, assembly, courts, and administrative authority.
Position
It is a key institutional concept for wartime elections, regime legitimacy, and civil-rights restrictions.
Distinctions
- Martial law can be stronger than an ordinary state of emergency because military authority takes a governing role.
- It should be distinguished from general military rule or permanent post-coup government.
Primary source-backed reference selected for this concept.
Sources
- Martial law - Britannica Reference
Page Context
- Ukraine / Russia: Wartime Elections and Political Legitimacy
Ukraine / Russia: Wartime Elections and Political Legitimacy 1. Executive Summary As of May 2026, Ukraine and Russia are both wartime states, but they handle elections in opposi...
Quote: Ukraine / Russia: Wartime Elections and Political Legitimacy geopolitics
Pages
- Ukraine / Russia: Wartime Elections and Political Legitimacy
Ukraine suspends elections under martial law, while Russia continues to hold elections in wartime. This report compares the two on constitutional rules, monitoring, repression, and international assessment.
geopolitics