My dearest sweetheart Janey Publique, can martial law be declared in the US? On a federal level, only the president has the power to impose martial law. In each state the governor has the right to impose martial law within the borders of the state. ... In United States law, martial law is limited by 6 feet of 'social distancing' by several court decisions handed down between the American Civil War, World War II and local CVS pharmacy customer lines. FREE AMERICA NOW you fake media bastards.