Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§251 Federal aid for State governments
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART I— - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS › Chapter CHAPTER 13— - INSURRECTION › § 251
Summary
When a State has an insurrection against its government, the President can send help. If the State's legislature asks, or if it cannot meet then the governor asks, the President may call other States' militia into federal service in the number the State requests and use armed forces he thinks are needed to stop the insurrection.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §251
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whenever there is an insurrection in any State against its government, the President may, upon the request of its legislature or of its governor if the legislature cannot be convened, call into Federal service such of the militia of the other States, in the number requested by that State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to suppress the insurrection.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 33150:201.R.S. 5297. The words “armed forces” are substituted for the words “land or naval forces of the United States”. The word “governor” is substituted for the word “executive”. The word “may” is substituted for the words “it shall be lawful * * * to”. The words “into Federal service” are substituted for the word “forth” for uniformity and clarity.
Editorial Notes
Codification Another section 251 was renumbered section 240a of this title.
Amendments
2016—Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 331 of this title as this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 251
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73