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The Trump administration is considering invoking the Insurrection Act, a federal law that allows the president to deploy U.S. troops for law enforcement in cities. It's been described as the mother of all power grabs, but it's been invoked over two dozen times in U.S. history, including by presidents like JFK and FDR.
The Insurrection Act, a stronger law than Title 10, could be invoked by Trump to use the military for law enforcement, a move not seen since the Rodney King riots.
The Insurrection Act gives the president broad discretion regarding its invocation. It can be invoked at the request. During the civil rights era, three presidents, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson, used the act to protect activists or enforce court orders mandating desegregation. It was last used at the request of California's governor during the 1992 LA riots.
The Insurrection Act is broad and allows the president to deploy troops domestically, but its use is controversial and seen as a potential overreach of power.
The Insurrection Act is based on the president's constitutional authority, allowing the president to decide when an insurrection exists and how to deal with it, without needing approval from Congress or judges.
The Insurrection Act is seen as a safeguard, a 'break glass in case of emergency' measure, allowing the president to use the military to restore order if things get really bad.