A state of emergency (also known as an emergency declaration) is a situation in which a country’s government has the power to put through policies it wouldn’t normally be allowed to in order to ensure the safety and protection of its citizens. A state of emergency may be declared before, during, or after a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or epidemic, or biosecurity risk.
States of emergency allow the executive branch to significantly increase its powers and reduce the checks and balances that would otherwise limit it. They can order the federal government to assist with funding, dispatching personnel and assisting with logistics, as well as commandeer labor, vehicles, and resources from private entities. It can also ease regulations and change legal repercussions for individuals, organizations, or governments dealing with the crisis.
The declaration can also suspend certain rights, including freedom of speech and assembly. It can restrict travel and movement of people within the area, and impose curfews. It can also confiscate property and seize assets from citizens. It can even restrict the right to vote in elections.
States of emergency can last for up to 60 days, but they can be extended if the crisis continues. A state of emergency can’t be dissolved by parliament, a new president may not be elected, and elections for local government bodies or referendums cannot take place. It can also not be used to impose martial law, as was the case in Bangladesh during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, or Pakistan after a coup attempt in 2007. Pakistan was still under a state of emergency until 20 December 2014, when President Pervez Musharraf lifted it.
About the Author
