what is martial law 
martial law is the substitution of a civil government by military authorities with unlimited powers to suspend the ordinary legal protections of civilian rights a state of martial law may be declared in response to a crisis or imposed during a coup in times of disaster or civil unrest a declaration of emergency is more common than a declaration of martial law because it is easier to reverse an emergency declaration allows the government to expand its powers temporarily to deal with a crisis suspending some civil liberties but avoiding military control understanding martial lawthe declaration of martial law is a rare and momentous decision for a civilian government to make and for good reason when martial law is declared civilian control of some or all aspects of government operations is ceded to the military this means that in the case of elected governments the representatives chosen by the voting population are no longer in power civilians have ceded control of the country in exchange for the potential restoration of order with the possibility that control may not be reclaimed in the future 