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''Posse comitatus'' is the common-law or statute law authority of a county sheriff, or other law officer, to conscript any able-bodied man to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon, similar to the concept of the "hue and cry." Originally found in English common law, it is generally obsolete; however, it survives in the United States, where it is the law enforcement equivalent of summoning the militia for military purposes.〔Section 8 of Sheriffs Act 1887〕 ==Etymology== The term derives from the Latin ''posse comitātūs,'' "power of the community," in English use from the late 16th century, shortened to ''posse'' from the mid 17th century.〔OED, s.v. "posse ''n''. 2, ''posse comitatus.''〕 While the original meaning refers to a group of citizens assembled by the authorities to deal with an emergency (such as suppressing a riot or pursuing felons), the term ''posse'' is also used for any force or band, especially with hostile intent, often also figuratively or humorously.〔 "All the Posse of Hell, cannot violently eject me." T. Fuller, ''Good Thoughts in Bad Times'' (1645) I. xv. 39. "A whole posse of the young lady's kindred--brothers, cousins and uncles--stood ready at the street door to usher me upstairs." W. Beckford Portuguese Jrnl. 10 June 1787, p. 72. (cited after OED). 〕 In 19th-century usage, ''posse comitatus'' also acquires the generalized or figurative meaning.〔"I can lick the whole posser-commertatus of yer. Come on, yer cowards!" ''Harper's'' Magazine July 1862, 184/1 (cited after OED).〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Posse comitatus (common law)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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