Article III, section 3

[Miles.]

Section. 3.
Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

adhere (adhering) - 1. To stick fast by or as if by suction or glue. 2. To remain devoted to or be in support of something : 3. To carry out a plan, scheme, or operation without deviation

Is our definition of treason too broad? Too limited?

Discuss.

[dangerclose]

That definition is pretty much self-explanatory and does not need to be expanded or clarified further.

But treason apparently means nothing today.

If we were to adhere to that law Jane Fonda would be 6 feet under as would John Walker. An anti-war protester who declares support for the insurgency in Iraq against our troops is by law commiting treason and should face the consequences.

[M1A2U2]

i heard something about war having to be declared? anyone know about tht?

[tsuri]

Yes to go to war with someone, you need a formal declaration of War. War was not declared since World War 2 if I remember correctly.

[Slug69]

What about sending thousands of US citizens to their death in a foreign land based on a deliberate falsehood?

[Lokos]

or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort

This doesn't stipulate war having to be declared. Which is immensely worrying, because, potentially speaking, anyone showing sympathy ('comfort') for the insurgency could be labelled a traitor. Though I doubt the modern US legal system would allow that kind of crap to fly.

Lokos