Treason, Sedition, and Insurrection: What’s the Difference?

Since the events at the Capitol on January 6, there has been a lot of discussion of the terms sedition, insurrection, and treason. But what are the legal definitions of these three acts, and how are they different from one another?

Uncle Sam cartoon
An editorial cartoon from the May 9, 1918, New York Herald, showing Uncle Sam dragging men labeled Spy, Traitor, IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), Germ[an] money, and Sinn Fein. The flag that on the U.S. Capitol refers to the Sedition Act of 1918 (Library of Congress)

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Americans believe in freedom of speech. We believe in airing our opinions, our grievances, and our accusations. And the U.S. government protects that right.

But, as we mentioned in a previous article, the First Amendment doesn’t protect all speech. One of the most important exceptions refers to calls to overthrow the government. Since the events at the Capitol on January 6, there has been a lot of discussion of the terms sedition, insurrection, and treason. But what are the legal definitions of these three acts, and how are they different from one another?

Sedition

Prohibited speech isn’t just limited to the overthrow of the government. For instance, yelling “fire” in a crowded theater is prohibited speech.

But when the crime is political, it may qualify as sedition. According to Title 18, second 2384 of the Code of Laws of the United States, sedition can meet any of three conditions.

If two or more people in any place subject to U.S. jurisdiction:

  1. conspire to overthrow, put down, or destroy by force or wage war against the government
  2. forcefully oppose government authority, preventing, hindering or delaying the execution of any law of the U.S.
  3. seize, take, or possess any U.S. property contrary to its laws

Immediacy is an important element in sedition. Advocating the use of force against the government some time in the future is not considered sedition; such speech is protected by the First Amendment.

The Justice Department determines what constitutes sedition. Last September, for instance, Attorney General Bill Barr encouraged prosecutors to charge Black Lives Matter protesters with sedition if they were believed to have caused violent crimes, such as taking a federal courthouse or other federal property by force. The charge of sedition, he continued, did not “require proof of a plot to overthrow the U.S. Government.”

Insurrection

While sedition is organized incitement to rebellion or civil disorder against the state’s authority, insurrection involves actual acts of violence against the state or its officers.

Only the attorney general can bring charges of insurrection, which is defined by Title 18, section 2383 of the U.S.C.:

Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

Elsewhere (title 10, chapter 13, section 254), the U.S. Code allows the president to “immediately order the insurgents to disperse and retire peaceably to their abodes within a limited time.” If the insurrectionists don’t comply, the president can then call out the military and National Guard to suppress civil disorder and insurrection.

Treason

Sedition and insurrection are quite distinct from treason, which is a violation of a citizen’s allegiance to the U.S. by betrayal or aiding the country’s enemies.

The Constitution, in Article III, is quite clear on what treason involves.

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.

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.

The use of the word “only” is significant. The framers intended that the charge of treason would not be expanded to become a political weapon. Congress can determine the penalties, but not alter the definition. (Title 18, Section 2381 imposes no less than five years’ imprisonment, no less than a $10,000 fine, and a lifetime ban from holding any public office. Treason could also carry the death penalty.)

Political cartoon
A cartoon of Confederate President Jefferson Davis with the devil and Benedict Arnold (Library of Congress)

Americans cannot be guilty of levying war on their own. It requires a group of people assembling, ready to use force. A conviction can only be obtained with, as Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, “actual assemblage of men for the purpose of executing a treasonable design.”

Aid and Comfort to Enemy — such as providing money to a belligerent nation or assistance to enemy soldier — can only be committed during time of war. Even then, a citizen is allowed aid or comfort the enemy without it being considered treason. Unless it can be proved the citizen was adhering to the enemy, there is no treason. And an enemy can only be a nation or organization with which the U.S. is in an open or declared war (Russia, therefore, does not qualify).

The overt act of treason must show criminal intent and support the accomplishment of a crime. The Constitution requires both concrete action and intent to betray the nation for a conviction of treason. Thoughts and intentions alone aren’t sufficient.

“No attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood,” means that the heirs of traitors will not lose their inheritance because of their forebear’s crime.

The concept of imminence is also important. The First Amendment protects your right to preach the overthrow of the government. But the protection ends when you incite others to imminent lawless action.

There is one additional crime associated with treason that shouldn’t be overlooked. Americans are not permitted to witness friends, neighbors, or relatives taking treasonous action without notifying authorities: Title 18, section 2382 states:

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States and having knowledge of the commission of any treason against them, conceals and does not, as soon as may be, disclose and make known the same to the President or to some judge of the United States, or to the governor or to some judge or justice of a particular State, is guilty of misprision of treason and shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than seven years, or both.

Unlike sedition and insurrection, treason is specifically and narrowly defined by the Constitution. This might be, perhaps, because the men who framed the Constitution had all been traitors themselves — to the British crown.

Featured image: An editorial cartoon from the May 9, 1918, New York Herald, showing Uncle Sam dragging men labeled Spy, Traitor, IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), Germ[an] money, and Sinn Fein. The flag that on the U.S. Capitol refers to the Sedition Act of 1918 (Library of Congress)

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Comments

  1. The only reason there is any gray in this matter is many millions of decent Americans believe DJT is correct and appropriate to commit these crimes he swore an oath not to. The facts are clear, sedition and insurrection were committed, and if an articulate black president attempted any of these actions the red hats would call for his lynching. The constitution is clear, DJT’s behavior is crystal clear and the outcome should be evident. Try and convict. Please for the sake of our democracy.

  2. Take a hard look at levying war. The only time the treason was ruled to need more of an explanation it was a judge that put it like this:
    To constitute a levying of war, there must be an assemblage of persons for the purpose of effecting by force a treasonable purpose. Enlistments of men to serve against government is not sufficient.

    “When war is levied, all those who perform any part, however minute or however remote from the scene of action, and who are actually leagued in the general conspiracy, are traitors.

    Any assemblage of men for the purpose of revolutionizing by force the government established by the United States in any of its territories, although as a step to or the means of executing some greater projects, amounts to levying war. The traveling of individuals to the place of rendezvous is not sufficient, but the meeting of particular bodies of men and their marching from places of partial to a place of general rendezvous is such an assemblage as constitutes a levying of war.”

    Examine with me: the meeting of particular bodies of men and their marching from places of partial, (RALLY) to a place of general rendezvous, (CAPITOL BUILDING) is such an assemblage as constitutes a levying of war. The 2 100ft gallows they brought shows intent.
    No matter how many deniers tell me it was not treason, based on this information, i cannot see it NOT being treason.

  3. I am surprised by the lack of critical thinking of our Trump supporters, that never seem to have read the US Constitution , but sore loser Trump is not qualified to run again ..
    ” Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”

  4. Shouting fire in a crowded theater is not illegal if there’s actually a fire! So from that point on everything route is full of shit because you’re too stupid to know the difference between violent speech and nonviolent speech. I have no reason to listen to a damn word you said since you don’t know that you legally can shout fire in a crowded theater.

  5. Pelosi had no authority to call protection. It’s only the DOD with authority on federal property. And they delayed for 3 hours. The hearings that are scheduled to be held should enlighten us about everything leading up to the insurrection as well as who funded it. Very interesting article and provides clarification on the potential charges Trump and others may face. This country has become unrecognizable. We as Americans have a responsibility to watch the evidence as it emerges and choose our government in response.

  6. If anything Pelosi should be held accountable for not securing the Capitol prior to said events. She knew that Security might be at risk. Part of her job is to call for reinforcement if she suspects the Capitol might be under attack. In my opinion, she knew but ignored the fact that a protest might turn into a riot. Just another way to set a trap to say that he incited the crowd to break into the Capitol. There are other facts that haven’t come out yet, that implicate Federal Agents aiding the crowd to enter the Capitol. I’m sure as these proceedings move forward it will all be revealed.

  7. “For instance, yelling “fire” in a crowded theater is prohibited speech.”

    This line is false, it is genially protected speech since Brandenburg V Ohio

  8. Trump and his henchmen are as close to being Traitors as anyone can be.What is our government waiting for? I wonder if that was me or you where would we be?

  9. Thank You ‘Post’ for this.
    The comments illustrate the heart of the issue to me. We want to blame someone else. That is not what good citizenship is about. We need to look at ourselves and others here in this great nation; and remind ourselves that it only functions well when we take responsiblility for it. As well, the people we elect are there to represent us and we need them to understand that.
    The greatest resource of this nation is it’s people. That fact began when people came together to create The Constitution. That document is not perfect, but it is the best we have!

  10. I’m sorry
    David Romaine
    I think you may have the 2nd Amendment confused w something else bc the entire 2nd says “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” It says nothing about the President at all. None of the branches have any kind of power like that in this country due to checks & balances to prevent meglomania or dictatorship.
    Anita Gorr yes every single person who had anything to do w 1/6 including those who knew & didn’t disclose the info should be in prison. Rs disgraced & perjured themselves multiple times taking the oaths 1 office 2 impeachments after having more than once made their intent of partial judgement public statements. All of which was completely ignored by the presiding chief justice who also perjured himself administering the oath. The lack of consequence for all of these illegal actions adds to the flagrant hypocrisy in which we delude ourselves w in regards to what this country stands for & furthers our dishonorable & untrustworthy reputation. We are a long running joke in the eyes of the world .

  11. This was Sedition on all the Republicans who voted to not make Trump accountable to The Presidential Financial Disclosure Laws..Put into place so no corrupt political figures have financial ties, financial assets, income,etc. That maybe can tie them to any Enemy Countries, Enemy Fractions, or organizations..To Protect the Highest Level Job’s of Our Nation. For being infiltrated by a bad person just like Donald Trump proved to be…How can these Republican Senators that aided, assisted, and supported Trump’s attempted insurrection now go back to their Senate Seats like nothing happened?? Isn’t this a conflict of Interest..to have these TRAiTORS still able to cause their Philabusters out of defiance for losing their attempted coup..Legally they violated laws, supported Sedition by voting and organizing to support this lawlessness and unconstitutional conduct and behavior, Unethical on the Republicans to NOT uphold Trump to the laws..They all violated their Oath’s of Office, they supported Trump’s lawless actions…NOT THE RULE OF LAW…It violation in itself should constitute removing them from their Senate seats. Ethics, and Constitutional, and Criminal Violations for their aiding, assisting, and by their VOTEs organized to over-throw the government…How can they play both sides?

  12. so if forceful occupation of US property with the intent to overthrow an election, and cause other harms and damages to duly elected officials and property occurs one becomes guilty of insurrection? If that force was done with a group and was premeditated, at that point are the insurrectionists now traitors? If so, does racist testimony such as Senator Ron Johnson’s, where he defends the insurrectionists not become comforting, aiding and abetting of the enemy?

  13. The second Ammendment grants WTP the power to overthrow/abhor/remove any public servants that do not honor their oath to keep & defend the Constitution as written/ intended. Thats why any public servant intent on destroying or limiting the 2nd Ammendment should be removed immediately. Any law reducing the power of WTP over public servants should also be stricken immediately.
    You cannot be charged for any crime for support & defense of the Constitution, law of the land. Thats the intent of the Constitution/framers. I’m not a lawyer, theses are my opinions based on the Constitution and founders intent. They risked it all so we wouldn’t be guilty of any crimes to protect and preserve our Creator given rights.

  14. Do Something About Donald Trump…If The Government Doesn’t Do Something It Get To A Point where They Can’t
    Do Anything … Look At Hitler and look At Trump …. Donald Trump Thanks, He Know ‘s More that Anyone ..He has Never Been Held Responsible Anything…. He was never a President , What he was .Dictator and Bully….

  15. CNN, Nbc & Abc are guilty of having knowledge (and abetting financially) the treasonable action of John E. Sullivan Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington D.C. Media partipants and House Speaker Pelosi are guilty of violating Title 18, Section 2382, “misprision of treason.”

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