posse comitatus

[pos-ee kom-i-tah-tuhs, -tey-]

noun

1. the body of persons that a peace officer of a county is empowered to call upon for assistance in preserving the peace, making arrests, and serving writs.

2. a body of persons so called into service.

posse comitatus

/ ˌkɒmɪˈtɑːtəs /

noun

1. the formal legal term for posse

Word History and Origins

Origin of posse comitatus¹

1620–30; < Medieval Latin: posse of the county

Word History and Origins

Origin of posse comitatus¹

Medieval Latin: strength (manpower) of the county

Example Sentences

“There is a law on the books, confirmed by the Constitution, called ‘posse comitatus,’” Pritzker told reporters earlier this month.

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“There is a law on the books, confirmed by the Constitution, called ‘posse comitatus,'” Pritzker said.

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Authorities back then could marshal a crew of civilians, called a posse comitatus, to assist them, as sometimes happened in California during the Gold Rush.

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Constitutional sheriffs — an outgrowth of the white-nationalist posse comitatus movement — claim they are above federal and state government and are the ultimate arbiters of the law.

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Related is the "constitutional sheriffs" movement, which also tries to make itself sound more official by using the name "posse comitatus."

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