The Insurrection Act: What It Is, Where It Came From, and How It Works 

A power older than the country’s sidewalks

When Americans talk about sending troops into a city, they are usually talking about the Insurrection Act.

Congress first passed the Militia Acts in 1792, authorizing call-ups; the specific Insurrection Act authority was enacted in 1807. It gives the president authority to use the military at home in narrow circumstances. The modern statute lives in Title 10 of the U.S. Code, mainly sections 251 through 254. Those provisions cover when a state asks for help , when federal law cannot be enforced through the courts, and when civil rights are being denied . There is also a requirement that the president issue a proclamation telling people to disperse before troops are used .

No lengthy reading assignmen