text: if martial law is declared? do citizens loose some constitutional rights? of course they do.  they lose them all.  consider the right to a fair and speedy trial, the writ of habeus corpus, the right to peaceably assemble or petition for redress of grievances all dead and gone if that happens.  more importantly, the right to keep and bear arms is almost certainly gone, so whatever they want to do to you they will do to you as long as they wish.  martial law, not a good thing.  if there is a massive breakdown in the social order, it might be deemed necessary.  but it is not a good thing.    society does not require government to exist, but most people believe in the illusion that it does.  thus, if public services cease from a massive disaster or attack, it is likely that elements of society will suddenly go nuts and start rampaging like a pack of wild animals.  while simple posses or voluntary militia could deal with them fine, it is likely that the government will want to protect itself and its own assets, so they will roll in martial law.