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sedition :: legal definition


Sedition - n. the federal crime of advocacy of insurrection against the government or support for an enemy of the nation during time of war, by speeches, publications and organization. Sedition usually involves actually conspiring to disrupt the legal operation of the government and is beyond expression of an opinion or protesting government policy. Sedition is a lesser crime than "treason," which requires actual betrayal of the government, or "espionage." Espionage involves spying on the government, trading state secrets (particularly military) to another country (even a friendly nation), or sabotaging governmental facilities, equipment or suppliers of the government, like an aircraft factory. During U.S. participation in World War II (1941-1945) several leaders of the German-American Bund, a pro-Nazi organization, were tried and convicted of sedition for actively interfering with the war effort. Since freedom of speech, press and assembly are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and because treason and espionage charges can be made for overt acts against the nation's security, sedition charges are rare.

See also: espionage treason and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit
amnesty :: n. a blanket abolition of an offense by the govern ... rget the offenses. See also: pardon
bail :: 1) n. the money or bond put up to secure the relea ... bond bail bondsman own recognizance
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
DNA :: n. scientifically, deoxyribonucleic acid, a chromo ... is strongly in favor of admission.
espionage :: n. the crime of spying on the federal government a ... n enemy. See also: sedition treason
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
treason :: n. the crime of betraying one's country, defined i ... nment. See also: espionage sedition
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
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forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
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what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - S

said :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."
sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale
salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify
savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market.
scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent.
scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment.
scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder