Militia
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Militia constitutional
The body of ordinary citizens who could be called to serve in defense — historically most able-bodied free men, not a standing professional army.
Technical: In the Constitution (Art. I, §8, cls. 15–16; Second Amendment), the militia comprised the body of the people capable of bearing arms, organized and disciplined under a mix of state and federal authority.
Founding-era note: Heller described the founding-era militia as 'all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense,' distinct from the modern National Guard.
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