AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Militarizing law enforcement?(INSIDER REPORT)
In 1878, Congress enacted the Posse Comitatus law, which bans the use of American military personnel in domestic law enforcement. The inspiration for that law was the abusive behavior of military personnel used to enforce Reconstruction policies in the conquered South.
During debate over the measure, one congressman offered this grim recital of official abuses: "Our Army, degraded from its high position of defenders of the country from foreign and domestic foes, has been used as a police; has taken possession of polls and controlled elections; has been sent with fixed bayonets into the halls of State Legislatures in time of peace and under the pretense of threatened outbreak." The Posse Comitatus Act was intended to prevent a relapse of such outrages, as well as to fortify the critical barrier between law enforcement and the military.
In 2002, the Bush administration urged Congress to undertake a review of the Posse Comitatus law, with a view toward modifying it (or perhaps repealing it outright) in the name of fighting terrorism. The armed violence that erupted in New Orleans subsequent to Hurricane Katrina has triggered a renewed focus on "reexamining" Posse Comitatus.
- The Posse Comitatus Act: liberation from the lawyers.
- Magazine article from: Parameters Felicetti, Gary Luce, John September 22, 2004 700+ words
...two years, or both." --Posse Comitatus Act (1) Much has been written about the Posse Comitatus Act. As a few others have noted...history and meaning of the Posse Comitatus Act, distinguishing clearly between...
- Congress reverses Posse Comitatus act changes.(Inside Track)(Brief article)
- Magazine article from: The New American May 12, 2008 700+ words
...effectively repealed revisions to the Posse Comitatus Act made in 2006. The 2006 language...Insurrection Act of 1807 and to Posse Comitatus by the Defense Authorization...Congress of the 2006 expansion of Posse Comitatus powers, as well as a leading...
- Rummy's posse: Pentagon police work.(Donald H. Rumsfeld, Posse Comitatus Act)
- Magazine article from: Reason Welch, Matt November 1, 2005 700+ words
IN 1878 Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, barring "participation by a member of the Army...new policy does not create any conflicts with the Posse Comitatus Act. But if one comes up, U.S. Northern Command...
- Tyranny and Posse Comitatus: enacted as part of a political bargain in 1878,...
- Magazine article from: The New American Grigg, William Norman October 31, 2005 700+ words
General Robert E. Lee knew the South had lost the war. He was also vividly aware that many, perhaps even most, of his troops were willing to continue the fight with vengeance, not victory, as the primary objective. Southern military leaders were well-schooled in the guerrilla tactics refined by
- Posse Comitatus.(Letter to the Editor)
- Magazine article from: The New American Smith, Jeff Kingsbury, Bob January 23, 2006 700+ words
...National Guard. The 9th Amendment (Rights) and the 10th (Powers) are the authority for the Posse Comitatus Act. Congress could remove the Posse Comitatus Act, but those amendments would still prevent the federal government from doing any police...
- War on terrorism will compel revisions to Posse Comitatus. (Viewpoint).
- Magazine article from: National Defense Kayyem, Juliette N. Roberts, Steven E. December 1, 2002 700+ words
...law--in American history: Posse Comitatus means "power of the county...recurrence, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act in 1878. It restricts the armed forces from acting "as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the...
- Posse Comitatus and nuclear terrorism.
- Magazine article from: Parameters Quillen, Chris March 22, 2002 700+ words
...known but poorly understood Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. (2) Originally...legislation can circumvent Posse Comitatus rather easily. (6) In fact...erode the prohibitions of the Posse Comitatus Act in order to meet a variety...
- Preserve Posse Comitatus.(George W. Bush military policy)
- Magazine article from: The Progressive November 1, 2005 700+ words
...that authority today. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits the President...pushed hard for amending the Posse Comitatus Act. On October 4, 2001, then...Administration's view that the Posse Comitatus Act "does not forbid the use of...
Source: HighBeam Research, Militarizing law enforcement?(INSIDER REPORT)