This is about the law term. For other uses see Sedition (disambiguation)

Sedition is a term of law which refers to covert conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order. Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society Speech refers to the processes associated with the production and perception of Sounds used in Spoken language. An organization (or organisation &mdash see spelling differences) is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals which controls its own performance and An insurgency is a violent internal uprising against a sovereign government that lacks the organization of a revolution Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority. Subversion refers to an attempt to overthrow structures of Authority, including the State. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity In English Criminal law, incitement is an anticipatory Common law offence and is the act of persuading encouraging instigating pressuring or threatening Rebellion is a refusal of obedienceIt may therefore be seen as encompassing a range of Behaviours from Civil disobedience and mass Nonviolent resistance Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. Seditious libel is a criminal offence under English Common law.

Because sedition is typically considered a subversive act, the overt acts that may be prosecutable under sedition laws vary from one legal code to another. Where those legal codes have a traceable history, there is also a record of the change of definition for what constituted sedition at certain points in history. This overview has served to develop a sociological definition of sedition as well, within study of persecution. Sociology (from Latin: socius "companion" and the suffix -ology "the study of" from Greek λόγος lógos "knowledge" Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual/group by another group

The difference between sedition and treason consists primarily in the subjective ultimate object of the violation to the public peace. In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. Peace, in the modern usage is a concept defined by the ideal state of relationship as absence of hostility at the international level that of a War. Sedition does not consist of levying war against a government nor of adhering to its enemies, giving enemies aid, and giving enemies comfort. Nor does it consist, in most representative democracies, of peaceful protest against a government, nor of attempting to change the government by democratic means (such as direct democracy or constitutional convention). Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives Protest expresses relatively overt reaction to events or situations sometimes in favor though more often opposed Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system Direct Democracy is a movement within the British Conservative Party dedicated to localism and Constitutional reform as a means of reviving public Alternative meaning Constitutional convention (political custom A constitutional convention is a gathering for the purpose of writing a new

Put simply, sedition is the stirring up of rebellion against the government in power. Treason is the violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or state and has to do with giving aid to enemies or levying war. Sedition is more about encouraging the people to rebel, where treason is actually betraying the country.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Australia 1.2 Canada 1.3 New Zealand 1.4 Panama 1.5 United States 2 See also 3 Notes and references

History

Sedition in its modern meaning first appeared in the Elizabethan Era (c. Romance and reality The Victorian era and the early twentieth century idealised the Elizabethan era 1590) as the "notion of inciting by words or writings disaffection towards the state or constituted authority". "Sedition complements treason and martial law: while treason controls primarily the privileged, ecclesiastical opponents, priests, and Jesuits, as well as certain commoners; and martial law frightens commoners, sedition frightens intellectuals. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order "

Australia

Main article: Australian sedition law

Australia's sedition laws were amended in anti-terrorism legislation passed on 6 December 2005, updating definitions and increasing penalties. Australian sedition law is the area of the Criminal law of Australia relating to the crime of Sedition. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 (Revised is legislation intended to hamper the activities of any potential Terrorists in Australia Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

In late 2006, the Howard government proposed plans to amend Australia's Crimes Act 1914, introducing laws that mean artists and writers may be jailed for up to seven years if their work was considered seditious or inspired sedition either deliberately or accidentally. See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March Australian criminal law refers to the criminal laws of the several jurisdictions in the Commonwealth of Australia. ^[1] Opponents of these laws have suggested that they could be used against legitimate dissent.

Over the past year, Australian attorney-general Philip Ruddock has rejected calls by two reports — from a Senate committee and the Australian Law Reform Commission — to limit the sedition provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 by requiring proof of intention to cause disaffection or violence. The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. The Australian Law Reform Commission (often abbreviated to ALRC) is an Australian independent statutory body established to conduct reviews into the Law of Australia The Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 (Revised is legislation intended to hamper the activities of any potential Terrorists in Australia He has also brushed aside recommendations to curtail new clauses outlawing “urging conduct” that “assists” an “organisation or country engaged in armed hostilities” against the Australian military. The Australian Defence Force (ADF is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia The new laws, inserted into the legislation last December, allow for the criminalization of basic expressions of political opposition, including supporting resistance to Australian military interventions, such as those in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Asia-Pacific region. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Asia-Pacific or APAC is the area generally regarded as encompassing Littoral East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia near the ^[2]

Canada

During World War II former Mayor of Montreal Camillien Houde campaigned against conscription in Canada. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Camillien Houde ( 13 August 1889 &ndash 11 September 1958) was a Quebec politician a Member of Parliament, and a Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page On August 2, 1940, Houde publicly urged the men of Quebec to ignore the National Registration Act. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Three days later, he was placed under arrest by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on charges of sedition. An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the investigation and prevention of crime After being found guilty, he was confined in internment camps in Petawawa, Ontario and Gagetown, New Brunswick until 1944. Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people commonly in large groups without trial Petawawa is a Town located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally Upon his release on August 18, 1944, he was greeted by a cheering crowd of 50,000 Montrealers and won back his job as Montreal mayor in 1944's civic election. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office

New Zealand

In New Zealand's first sedition trial in decades, Tim Selwyn was convicted of sedition (section 83 of the Crimes Act 1961) on 8 June 2006. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Tim Selwyn (b 1974 Takapuna) is a New Zealand political activist who was found guilty of Sedition on June 8 2006, the first person Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

In September 2006, the New Zealand Police laid a sedition charge against a Rotorua youth, Christopher Russell, 17, who was also charged with threatening to kill^[3]. Rotorua is a city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand, and Rotorua The Police withdrew the sedition charge when Russell agreed to plead guilty on the other charge^[4].

In March 2007, Mark Paul Deason, 32, manager of a tavern near the University of Otago, was charged with seditious intent^[5] although he was later granted police diversion when he pleaded guilty to publishing a document which encourages public disorder^[6] Deason ran a promotion for his Tavern that offered 1 litre of beer for 1 litre petrol. The University of Otago ( Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo) in Dunedin is New Zealand 's oldest university with over 20000 students enrolled during At the end of the promotion, the prize would have been a couch soaked in the petrol. It is presumed the intent was for the couch to be burned — a popular university student prank. Police also applied for Deason's liquor license to be revoked.

Following a recommendation from the New Zealand Law Commission^[7], the New Zealand government announced on 7 May 2007 that the sedition law would be repealed^[8]. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Bill was passed on 24 October 2007, and entered into force on 1 January 2008^[9]. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Panama

The opposition group, "Cruzada Civilista" (Civic Crusade), to the dictatorial military government of Manuel Antonio Noriega in the 80’s was proudly auto denominated “the sedition”. Panama ideology was divided in two big groups: people supporting the CIA imposed regime in Panama and all the people against this regime. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America.

Today, under the government of Martin Torrijos, the “Cruzada Civilista” seditious group is being started to be mentioned again because Panama is having a return to some military tendencies, again impulsed by USA international policies^[10]. Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino (born July 18, 1963, in Chitré, Herrera) is a Panamanian politician and the current President

United States

There have been a number of attempts in the United States to regulate speech that has been deemed seditious. In 1798, President John Adams signed into law the Alien and Sedition Acts, the fourth of which, the Sedition Act or "An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes against the United States" set out punishments of up to two years' imprisonment for "opposing or resisting any law of the United States" or writing or publishing "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the President or Congress (but specifically not the Vice-President). John Adams (October 30 1735 July 4 1826 was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills passed in 1798 by the Federalists in the United States Congress —who were waging an undeclared naval war with France The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death The act was allowed to expire in 1801 after the election of Thomas Jefferson, Vice President at the time of the Act's passage. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence

The Espionage Act of 1917 may also be considered a sedition law of sorts, as section 3 made it a crime, punishable by 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000, to wilfully spread false news of the US military with an intent to disrupt their operations, to foment mutiny in the ranks, or obstruct recruiting. The Espionage Act of 1917 was a United States federal law passed shortly after entering World War I on June 15 1917 which made it a Crime for a person The act was amended in 1918 with the Sedition Act, which expanded the purview of the Espionage Act to any statements made criticizing the government. The Sedition Act of 1918 was an amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917 passed at the urging of President Woodrow Wilson, who was concerned that dissent The act was upheld in 1919 in Schenck v. United States, but was repealed largely in 1921, leaving mostly laws forbidding espionage and allowing military censorship of sensitive material. Schenck v United States,, was a United States Supreme Court decision concerning the question of whether the defendant possessed a First Amendment right Censorship is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable harmful or sensitive as determined by a censor

In 1940, the Alien Registration Act or Smith Act was passed, which made it a crime to advocate or teach the desirability of overthrowing the United States Government, or to be a member of any organization which does the same. The Alien Registration Act or Smith Act ( of 1940 is a United States federal statute that makes it a criminal offense for anyone to knowingly or willfully advocate It was often used against Communist organizations. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based The act was invoked in three major trials, one of the Socialist Worker's Party in Minneapolis in 1941, resulting in 23 convictions, and again in 1944 in what became known as "The Great Sedition Trial", of pro-Nazi figures which ended in a mistrial. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German A series of trials of 140 leaders of the Communist Party USA was also predicated upon the Smith Act beginning in 1949, and lasting until 1957. The Communist Party of the United States of America ( CPUSA) is a Marxist-Leninist Political party in the United States. Although the Supreme Court upheld the convictions of 11 CPUSA leaders in 1951, the court reversed itself in 1957 in Yates v. United States by ruling that teaching an ideal, no matter how inimical that onlookers may view it to the United States, does not equal advocating or planning its implementation. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Yates v United States, 354 US 298 ( 1957) was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States involving free speech and congressional

Although unused since at least 1961, the Smith Act remains US law.

Laura Berg, a nurse at a Dept of Veterans' Affairs hospital in New Mexico was investigated for sedition in September 2005^[11] after writing a letter^[12][13] to the editor of a local newspaper, criticizing the government, although this was by her human resources department, not the government. A nurse is responsible—along with other Health care Professionals —for the treatment safety and recovery of acutely or chronically The United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA) is a government-run military Veteran benefit system with Cabinet -level status New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. Ms Berg was represented by the ACLU^[14]. The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses Charges were dropped in 2006[1].

See also

• Seditious libel
• Mutiny
• Sedition Act
• Free speech

Notes and references

• Breight, Curtis, C. Seditious libel is a criminal offence under English Common law. Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the Military; or the Crew of any ship even Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without Censorship or Limitation. Surveillance, militarism and drama in the Elizabethan Era, Macmillian 1996: London.
• A synopsis of the Australian sedition lawsPDF

Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

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