In the case of a large-scale disaster or crisis, the traditional legislative paths through which government typically functions may be too slow to rapidly render aid. In such cases, it is common for a country to declare a state of emergency (also known as etat d’exception). State of emergency grants governments broad powers that can allow them to assume some or all rights of citizens, impose travel restrictions, curfews, take control of infrastructure like broadcasting and power distribution, ration certain goods, and otherwise direct private businesses to function in particular ways.
A state of emergency can be triggered by natural or man-made disasters, armed rebellion, or terrorist attacks. It can last for an initial period of 15 days unless revoked sooner. During this time, the President can create regulations to deal with the crisis that are “reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation.” These regulations can infringe on civil liberties such as freedom of speech and movement but only to the extent that they are necessary to address the crisis.
While it is true that states of emergency can be abused, they also help countries to respond to disasters and crises faster than if they were under normal conditions. As such, they are a necessary component of any modern country that wishes to be prepared to respond to the challenges of life. In the past, they were more often used by dictatorships as a means of suspending regular civil liberties and curbing opposition.