<P> In United States law, martial law is limited by several court decisions that were handed down between the American Civil War and World War II . In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids military involvement in domestic law enforcement without congressional approval . The martial law concept in the United States is closely tied with the right of habeas corpus, which is in essence the right to a hearing on lawful imprisonment, or more broadly, the supervision of law enforcement by the judiciary . The ability to suspend habeas corpus is related to the imposition of martial law . Article 1, Section 9 of the US Constitution states, "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it ." </P> <P> In United States law, martial law is limited by several court decisions that were handed down between the American Civil War and World War II . In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids military involvement in domestic law enforcement without congressional approval . </P>

The u.s. supreme court stated that the term martial law