A state of emergency is a temporary legal situation in which a government has greater control than normal. It may be declared before, during or after a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or other biosecurity risk. It allows the government to impose restrictions on citizens and businesses. It can also grant the military increased authority and allow derogations from human rights laws. During a state of emergency, the government may use detention without trial and confiscate property. It can be lifted only by a declaration of the President or the parliament, but can be extended.
A number of countries have used states of emergency, including the United Kingdom during the 2022 heatwave, the United States after wildfires, and Turkey during a coup d’etat attempt in 2023. In 2024, Papua New Guinea was under a state of emergency after riots and a manhunt for a drug cartel leader. In 2022, Iceland was under a state of emergency after earthquakes and the possibility of an eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano.
In the United States, Congress has passed a series of reform proposals to reduce executive-power abuse during national emergencies. These include Senator Mike Lee’s (R-UT) Assuring That Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership Is Exercised Over National Emergencies Act, which was cosponsored by 18 Republicans, and the Protecting Our Democracy Act, a compendium of executive-power reforms that passed the House in December 2021. In addition, the Senate has passed the ARTICLE ONE Act, which would require that a declared state of emergency expire within 30 days unless or until Congress votes to approve it.
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