Militia

mi-lish'a, troops enrolled by the several states. The characteristic of state troops seems to be that they are composed of volunteer private citizens who do not give up their own business, except during a few days of each year when they meet for drill and camp discipline. The governor is commander-in-chief of the militia of each state. He usually appoints the officers. Many states appropriate money for the erection of barracks and armories. The militia are supposed to be willing and eager to respond to the call of the governor in case of an emergency, as of a riot. The president may call upon the governor of a state to send his militia to the aid of the general government. In such a case the militia pass under the control of the president and his officers. There are in the United States not far from 9,000,000 men capable of bearing arms. Of these about 115,000 are enrolled in regular militia organizations at a total expense to the various states of about $3,000,000 a year, not counting liberal aid from the general government. See Army