militia]] The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinaryThe American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000 citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, and those engaged in such activity, without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. Legal and historical meanings of militia include: · Defense activity or service, to protect a community, its territory, property, and laws. · The entire able-bodied male (and perhaps female) population of a community, town, county, or state, available to be called to arms. * A subset of these who may be legally penalized for failing to respond to a call-up. * A subset of these who actually respond to a call-up, regardless of legal obligation. · A private, non-government forc