Treason Clause Pros And Cons

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Betrayal against one’s country defines the ultimate deception to the constitution of the United States. The unforgivable action a person can commit is known as treason. Treason was introduced in the Constitution and only Congress has the power to convict a person of treason. In Great Britain, treason is punished differently from America. The Treason Clause was an important constitutional law. Over time treason has transformed in 1794 when Philip Vigol and John Mitchell were the first U.S. citizens convicted of treason and were hanged because of the Whiskey Rebellion. Now, in the 21st century, one man’s actions are leaning towards treasonous behavior.

Treason is a criminal disloyalty towards someone’s own nation. Treason was introduced in the …show more content…

The Treason Clause complicates both liberal and conservative positions. Firstly, the Treason Clause explicitly states that individuals are capable of engaging in warlike actions against it; secondly, the Treason Clause again states exactly the opposite persons who levy war against the United States are entitled to specific procedural protections (The Forgotten Constitutional Law of Treason, 2006). Basically, Whoever is subjected to treason prosecution under the constitutional law must be tried in an open civilian court and may not be detained by the military as an enemy. The Treason Clause was important since both counties viewed people subjected to the laws of treason were entitled to a fair trial at a criminal court. People who weren’t were treated as enemies of the state and were subjected to military authority. However, England and American drew a line when it came to a person's allegiance. In England people who owed allegiance to the crown was subjected to trial for treason. The people who didn't have to be subjected to military authority. In American allegiance is owed to anyone who is within the American borders. while those who weren't within the borders were accompanied by military forces. During World War II the treason laws between civil court and military authority, unfortunately, didn’t survive in America after the Ex parte Quirin trial of