Exam 16: Crimes Against the State

What is the difference between espionage and espionage during wartime?

Marie is an anarchist. She has been talking online with other anarchists and anarchist organizations. Together, she and her new friends make plans to overthrow the government of the United States. What crime has Marie committed? What is the legal definition of this crime? If you were the defense attorney, how would you defend Marie?

Treason is not defined in the U.S. Constitution.

The United States has brought hundreds of prosecutions for treason.

The U.S. government has primarily relied on the prohibition against material assistance to terrorists and to terrorist organizations.

Travis and Greg had a lot of time on their hands with not much to do. They were just 18 and had very little supervision at home because their father had just gone off to fight in the Gulf War. They put together a plan to break into the National Guard headquarters just to see if they would be able to do it successfully. They had been watching lots of Mission Impossible lately and it motivated them to do something exciting. Their plan was to scale the fence, slowly crawl undetected through the yard, climb the building, drop in through the chimney, and exit through the front door. Might Travis and Greg be found guilty of sabotage?

What is the Geneva Convention?

The U.S. seditious ______ statute is directed at the use of force against the government or the use of force to prevent the execution of any law or to interfere with governmental property and has been employed by prosecutors in recent years in terrorist prosecutions.

The ______ declared that it was a crime to conspire to teach or advocate the forcible overthrow of the U.S. government or to be a member of a group that advocated the overthrow of the government.

______ at common law was any communication intended or likely to bring about hatred, contempt, or dissatisfaction with the king, the constitution, or the government.

What is the definition of sabotage?

Possession of a biological or toxic weapon or delivery system that cannot be justified by a peaceful purpose is subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine or both.

Burning the American flag is considered a crime against the state.

______ laws are modern and updated versions of treason, sedition, sabotage, and espionage.

In order for a conviction of treason, a witness must testify that the defendant committed the overt act of treason.

All of the following are crimes of violence included within the statute on terrorism that transcends national boundaries, EXCEPT ______

______ is defined as the seizing or exercising control over an aircraft by force, violence, threat of force or violence, or any form of intimidation with a wrongful intent.

The United States considers some terrorists to be lawful combatants.

What is the definition of sedition?

What is the definition of treason?