US congressmen were told by the Bush administration that martial law will be imposed if stocks drop 2 or 3 thousand points or more, as incentive for them to pass the $700 billion bailout:

CSPAN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaG9d_4zij8

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA):
"The only way they can pass this bill is by creating and sustaining a panic atmosphere... Many of us were told in private conversations that if we voted against this bill, on Monday, that the sky would fall, the market would fall 2 or 3 thousand points the first day, another couple thousand the second day, and a few members were even told that there would be martial law in America if we voted no."

Congressmen are being denied access to the martial law plan by Homeland Security that would be used to deal with the financial crisis or a large scale natural disaster...

CSPAN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ByoqZqDGaA