A state of emergency is an executive authority granted to a government by law to allow it to put through policies that would otherwise not be allowed, in the interests of public safety. It can be declared before, during or after a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or epidemic or biosecurity risk. This gives governments powers to respond to the situation and provides them with resources to deliver aid, protect people and property, restrict movement, and make restrictions. It does not however allow a government to restrict freedom of speech or of assembly, nor does it prevent elections from being held.
States of emergencies can be triggered by a governor, president or other official. This allows them to activate resources quickly in response to a crisis. They can be limited in scope, or be nationwide. They may remain in effect until revoked, or they can be dissolved when the threat has passed.
Some states have laws that specify when a state of emergency can be ended, and how long it will last. Others have no specific rules. For example, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Premier can declare a state of emergency (known as an Estado de Emergencia in Spanish) for up to 90 days by a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives. This can be extended by three months, and must also be passed by the Senate.
Other countries use ordinary legislation to manage crises rather than declaring a state of emergency, for many reasons. These include the view that a state of emergency is an unnecessary escalation, or that there are sufficient powers and mechanisms within ordinary legislation to deal with the problem.
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