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In the [[United States]] treason is a [[federal crime]], the only crime provided for in the United States [[Constitution]]. It is defined as levying [[war]] against the United States, adhering to their enemies, or giving their enemies [[aid and comfort]].(U.S. Const. art. 3, section 3, cl. 1). Where treason is made a crime under [[state]] statutes, the definitions often emphasize action directed against [[state government]]. ( Cal. Penal Code section 37---treason consists of levying war against the state, adhering to its enemies, or giving ememies aid and comfort)

In the [[United States]] treason is a [[federal crime]], the only crime provided for in the United States [[Constitution]]. It is defined as levying [[war]] against the United States, adhering to their enemies, or giving their enemies [[aid and comfort]].(U.S. Const. art. 3, section 3, cl. 1). Where treason is made a crime under [[state]] statutes, the definitions often emphasize action directed against [[state government]]. ( Cal. Penal Code section 37---treason consists of levying war against the state, adhering to its enemies, or giving ememies aid and comfort)

It is generally understood that treason is a crime that threatens all citizens and calls for the harshest penalties, typically [[capital punishment]].  In medieval [[England|English]] law, 'high treason' was defined as the murder or attempted murder of the reigning monarchy, or attempts to usurp or overthrow them or pervert the natural succession of the throne.  'Petty treason' was the murder of a social superior, such as a servant killing his master or a knight murdering the lord he was expected to serve, but this term gradually fell out of use after the decline of the feudal system, and because such cases could also be tried simply as murder.  Before the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 (which ejected the [[House of Stuart]] and made the English government truly limited), high treason carried a penalty of [[beheading]] for the nobility and [[hanging]], [[drawing and quartering]] for others, a process vividly depicted towards the end of the 1995 film [[Braveheart]].  A famous example of such an execution was that in 1605 of [[Guy Fawkes]], a member of a failed conspiracy of [[Roman Catholics]] who sought to assassinate the [[Protestant]] King [[James I]] and his parliament.  The British hanged traitors as late as the mid-[[20th century]].

It is generally understood that treason is a crime that threatens all citizens and calls for the harshest penalties, typically [[capital punishment]].  In medieval [[England|English]] law, 'high treason' was defined as the murder or attempted murder of the reigning monarchy, or attempts to usurp or overthrow them or pervert the natural succession of the throne.  'Petty treason' was the murder of a social superior, such as a servant killing his master or a knight murdering the lord he was expected to serve, but this term gradually fell out of use after the decline of the feudal system, and because such cases could also be tried simply as murder.  Before the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 (which ejected the [[House of Stuart]] and made the English government truly limited), high treason carried a penalty of [[beheading]] for the nobility and [[hanging, drawing and quartering]] for others, a process vividly depicted towards the end of the 1995 film [[Braveheart]].  A famous example of such an execution was that in 1605 of [[Guy Fawkes]], a member of a failed conspiracy of [[Roman Catholics]] who sought to assassinate the [[Protestant]] King [[James I]] and his parliament.  The British hanged traitors as late as the mid-[[20th century]].

The [[U. S. Constitution]] defines treason as "levying war against the United States, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."  It also (copying an earlier English statute, the Statute of [[Edward III]]) requires that no conviction shall be had for this crime in the absence of the sworn testimony of two witnesses.  The high point of treason prosecutions came under the administration of [[Woodrow Wilson]], when the [[Espionage Act of 1917]] and [[Sedition Act of 1918]] were used to convict scores of Americans for treason based upon speeches against American participation in [[World War I]].  The Sedition Act was eventually repealed (although at least two sections of the Espionage Act remain in U. S. law) and the modern [[clear and present danger doctrine]] was formulated to determine when the U. S. or any state could resort to restricting [[First Amendment]] rights to free expression.

The [[U. S. Constitution]] defines treason as "levying war against the United States, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."  It also (copying an earlier English statute, the Statute of [[Edward III]]) requires that no conviction shall be had for this crime in the absence of the sworn testimony of two witnesses.  The high point of treason prosecutions came under the administration of [[Woodrow Wilson]], when the [[Espionage Act of 1917]] and [[Sedition Act of 1918]] were used to convict scores of Americans for treason based upon speeches against American participation in [[World War I]].  The Sedition Act was eventually repealed (although at least two sections of the Espionage Act remain in U. S. law) and the modern [[clear and present danger doctrine]] was formulated to determine when the U. S. or any state could resort to restricting [[First Amendment]] rights to free expression.