Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

posse comitatus

noun

/ˈpɒsi kəˈmɪtəˌtəs/

Definition

The country or community around a city or town, typically in the context of law enforcement and the authority to summon citizens for assistance.

Examples

The sheriff formed a posse comitatus to search for the escaped prisoners.
Under posse comitatus, military personnel cannot be used for domestic law enforcement.
The citizens banded together, acting as a posse comitatus to patrol their neighborhood.

Meaning

Originally from Latin, it denotes a body of men summoned by a sheriff to assist in law enforcement duties. In the modern context, it signifies the limitations on the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement within the United States.