Congress amended the Insurrection Act last September to make it far easier for the president to declare martial law. I go into the cheery details in a piece in the April 23 issue of the American Conservative:

How many pipe bombs might it take to end American democracy? Far fewer than it would have taken a year ago.

The Defense Authorization Act of 2006, passed on Sept. 30, empowers President George W. Bush to impose martial law in the event of a terrorist “incident,” if he or other federal officials perceive a shortfall of “public order,” or even in response to antiwar protests that get unruly as a result of government provocations.

The full text of the piece is posted at my blog here, where comments & caterwaulings are welcome.