Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. § 1385)
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Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
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We generally assume that the Posse Comitatus Act means that the military simply can't be involved in any domestic law enforcement activities.
Quote:
...but that is nothing compared to using the military, (especially a combat not MP) brigade as the police. Under the Posse Comitatus Act they’re not supposed to be able to.
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However, there are quite a number of Acts of Congress that provide express exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act.
LA riots in 1992: military intervention was under the terms of the Insurrection Act of 1807 (
10 USC § 331,
10 USC § 332,
10 USC § 333, and
10 USC § 334).
Drug interdiction: various authority granted to the Secretary of Defense (
32 USC 112).
Military equipment: can be provided to assist law enforcement (
10 USC 371-382).