Treason Act or Treasons Act (and variations thereon) or Statute of Treasons is a stock

short title In certain jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and other Westminster-influenced jurisdictions (such as Canada or Australia), as well as the United States and the Philippines, primary legislation has both a short title and a long title. Th ...

used for

legislation Legislation is the process or result of enrolled bill, enrolling, enactment of a bill, enacting, or promulgation, promulgating laws by a legislature, parliament, or analogous Government, governing body. Before an item of legislation becomes law i ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

and in the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...

on the subject of

treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...

and related offences. Several Acts on the subject of treason may also have different short titles, such as the Sedition Act. The Treason Acts may refer to all statutes with this short title or to all statutes on the subject of treason and related offences.

List

England

; 62 acts (1351–1705) :The

Treason Act 1351 The Treason Act 1351 is an Act of the Parliament of England which codified and curtailed the common law offence of treason. No new offences were created by the statute. It is one of the earliest English statutes still in force, although it has b ...

(25 Edw. 3 Stat. 5 c.2) :The Forfeitures Act 1360 (34 Ed. 3 c. 12) :The Treason Act 1381 (5 Ric. 2 c. 6) :The Treason Act 1397 (21 Ric. 2 c. 12) ::''See also'' cc. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 20 :The Treason Act 1399 (1 Hen. 4 c. 10) (repealed the Treason Acts 1381 and 1397) :The

Safe Conducts Act 1414 __NOTOC__ The Safe Conducts Act 1414 (2 Hen. 5 c.6) was an Act of the Parliament of England. It made it high treason to break a truce or promise of safe conduct by killing, robbing or "spoiling" the victim. Unusually, the "voluntary receipt" or ...

(2 Hen. 5 c. 6) :The

Treason Act 1415 The Treason Act 1415 (3 Hen. 5 st.2 c.6) was an Act of the Parliament of England which made clipping coins high treason, punishable by death. (It was already treason to counterfeit coins.) The Act was repealed by the Treason Act 1553, and then r ...

(3 Hen. 5 Stat. 2 c. 6) ::''See also'' 3 Hen. 5 St. 2 c. 7 :The Treason Act 1423 (2 Hen. 6 c. 17) :The Treason Act 1429 (8 Hen. 6 c. 6) :The

Treason Act 1442 The Treason Act 1442 (20 Hen.6 c.3) was an Act of the Parliament of England. It made it high treason for any Welshman to "drive, bring, carry away, or withhold" any Englishman or any Englishman's horse, cattle or goods. The Act was due to expire ...

(20 Hen. 6 c. 3) ::'' See also'' 20 Hen.6 c.11 :The Treason Act 1448 (27 Hen. 6 c. 4) :The

Act of Accord The Act of Accord was an Act of the Parliament of England which was passed on 25 October 1460, three weeks after Richard of York had entered the Council Chamber and laid his hand on the empty throne. Under the Act, King Henry VI of England was to ...

(1460) (39 Hen. 6 c. 1) :The

Treason Act 1488 An Acte agaynst counterfeting of forrayne Coyne (4 Hen. 7 c. 18) was an Act of the Parliament of England passed in 1488. It made it high treason to counterfeit coinage from other countries. (It was already treason to counterfeit English coins, u ...

(4 Hen. 7 c. 18) :The

Treason Act 1495 The Treason Act 1495, formally referred as the Act 11 Hen 7 c 1 and informally as the statute, is an Act of the Parliament of England which was passed in the reign of Henry VII of England. Background After the defeat of Richard III in the B ...

(11 Hen. 7 c. 1) :The

Benefit of Clergy Act 1496 The Benefit of Clergy Act 1496 (12 Hen. 7 c.7) was an Act of the Parliament of England. Its long title was "An Act to make some Offences Petty Treason." It abolished benefit of clergy for petty treason. See also *High treason in the United Kin ...

(12 Hen. 7 c. 7; abolished benefit of clergy for petit treason) :The Poisoning Act 1530 (22 Hen. 8 c. 9) :The

Treasons Act 1534 The Treasons Act 1534 ( 26 Hen. 8. c. 13) was an Act of the Parliament of England passed in 1534, during the reign of King Henry VIII. Background This Act was passed after the Act of Supremacy 1534, which made the king the " Only Head of the Ch ...

(26 Hen. 8 c. 13) :The

Treason Act 1535 The Treason Act 1535 (27 Hen.8 c. 2) was an Act passed by the English Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII of England in 1535. It made it high treason to counterfeit the King's privy seal, signet ring or royal sign manual. The Act w ...

(27 Hen. 8 c. 2) :The Act of Succession 1536 (28 Hen. 8 c. 7) :The

See of Rome Act 1536 An Act extinguishing the authority of the bishop of Rome (''28 Hen.8 c. 10'') was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of England in 1536. It consisted mostly of a violent attack on the authority of the Pope and his followers, and declare ...

(28 Hen. 8 c. 10) :The

Treason Act 1536 The Treason Act 1536 (28 Hen.8 c. 18) was an Act passed by the English Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII of England. It made it high treason to marry or become engaged to the King's children, sisters, paternal aunts, or his nieces or ...

(28 Hen. 8 c. 18) :The

Treason Act (Ireland) 1537 The Treason Act (Ireland) 1537 (28 Hen 8 c. 7, long title ''An Act of Slander'') is an Act of the former Parliament of Ireland which adds several offences to the law of treason in Ireland. It was repealed in the Republic of Ireland in 1962 (but w ...

(28 Hen. 8 c. 7 (I.)) :The Treasons in Wales Act 1540 (32 Hen. 8 c. 4) :The Treason Act 1540 (32 Hen. 8 c. 25) :The

Treason Act 1541 The Treason Act 1541 (33 Hen.8 c.20) was an Act of the Parliament of England passed in 1542 (acts of Parliament were backdated to the year in which the session of Parliament had begun, rather than the year in which the Act was actually passed). It ...

(33 Hen. 8 c. 20) :The

Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 The Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 (33 Hen 8 c 21) was an Act of the Parliament of England, passed in 1542, which attained Queen Catherine Howard for adultery, thereby authorising her execution. It also provided that all of Queen Catherine' ...

(33 Hen. 8 c. 21) ::''See also'' 33 Hen. 8. c. 23 :The

Crown of Ireland Act 1542 The Crown of Ireland Act 1542 is an Act passed by the Parliament of Ireland (33 Hen. 8 c. 1) on 18 June 1542, which created the title of King of Ireland for King Henry VIII of England and his successors, who previously ruled the island as L ...

(33 Hen. 8 c. 1 (I.)) :The Treason Act 1543 (35 Hen. 8 c. 2) ::''See also'' 35 Hen.8 c.1 and c.3 :The

Treason Act 1547 The Treason Act 1547 (1 Ed. 6 c.12) was an Act of the Parliament of England. It is mainly notable for being the first instance of the rule that two witnesses are needed to prove a charge of treason, a rule which still exists today in the United ...

(1 Ed. 6 c. 12) :The Riot Act 1549 (3 & 4 Edw. 6 c. 5) :The

Treason Act 1551 The Treason Act 1551 (5 & 6 Edw 6 c 11) was an Act of the Parliament of England. The Act was described as "purely procedural" by the House of Lords in ''R v Joyce'',Treason Act 1553 The Treason Act 1553 (1 Mary Sess 1 c 1) was an Act of the Parliament of England. (It should not be confused with another Act about treason passed in the same year, 1 Mary Sess 2 c 6.) The Act abolished all forms of treason that had been creat ...

(1 Mar. Sess. 1 c. 1) ::''See also'' 1 Mary Sess.2 c.6 :The

Treason Act 1554 The Treason Act 1554 (1 & 2 Ph & M c 10) was an Act of the Parliament of England. It is not to be confused with two other Acts about treason passed in the same year, 1 & 2 Ph & M c 9 and 11 (summarised below). Long title The long title was "An A ...

(1&2 Ph. & M. c. 10) ::''See also'' 1&2 Ph. & M. c.9 and c.11 :The

Act of Supremacy 1558 The Act of Supremacy 1558 (1 Eliz 1 c 1), sometimes referred to as the Act of Supremacy 1559, is an Act of the Parliament of England, which replaced the original Act of Supremacy 1534, and passed under the auspices of Elizabeth I. The 1534 Ac ...

(1 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The Treason Act 1558 (1 Eliz. 1 c. 5) :The Supremacy of the Crown Act 1562 (5 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The Clipping Coin Act 1562 (5 Eliz. 1 c. 11) :The

Treasons Act 1571 The Treasons Act 1571 (13 Eliz.1 c.1) was an Act of the Parliament of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It restored the provisions of the Treasons Act 1534, which had been passed by Parliament during the reign of her father, King ...

(13 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The Bulls, etc., from Rome Act 1571 (13 Eliz. 1 c. 2) :The Rebellion Act 1572 (14 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The Escape of Traitors Act 1572 (14 Eliz. 1 c. 2) :The Coin Act 1572 (14 Eliz. 1 c. 3) :The Coin Act 1575 (18 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The

Religion Act 1580 The Religion Act 1580 (23 Eliz.1 c. 1) was an Act of the Parliament of England during the English Reformation. The Act made it high treason to persuade English subjects to withdraw their allegiance to the Queen, or from the Church of England to ...

(23 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The Safety of the Queen, etc. Act 1584 (27 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The

Jesuits, etc. Act 1584 An act against Jesuits, seminary priests, and such other like disobedient persons, also known as the Jesuits, etc. Act 1584, (27 Eliz.1, c. 2) was an Act of Parliament, Act of the Parliament of England passed during the English Reformation. The A ...

(27 Eliz. 1 c. 2) :The Treason Act 1586 (29 Eliz. 1 c. 2) :The

Popish Recusants Act 1605 The Popish Recusants Act 1605 (3 Jac.1, c. 4) was an act of the Parliament of England which quickly followed the Gunpowder Plot of the same year, an attempt by English Roman Catholics to assassinate King James I and many of the Parliament. The ...

(3 Jac. 1 c. 4) :''The

Treasons Act 1649 The Treasons Act 1649 or Act declaring what offences shall be adjudged Treason was passed on 17 July 1649 by the Rump Parliament during the Commonwealth of England. It superseded the ''Act declaring what offences shall be adjudged Treason'' passed ...

'' (Act of the Parliament of the

Commonwealth of England The Commonwealth was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland, were governed as a republic after the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execut ...

) :The

Sedition Act 1661 The Sedition Act 1661 (13 Car 2 St 1 c 1) was an Act of the Parliament of England, although it was extended to Scotland in 1708. Passed shortly after the Restoration of Charles II, it is no longer in force, but some of its provisions continue ...

(13 Car. 2 c. 1) :The

Correspondence with Enemies Act 1691 The Correspondence with Enemies Act 1691 (3 & 4 W.& M. c. 13) was an Act of the Parliament of England which made it high treason to correspond with the deposed King James II. It was repealed and replaced by the Correspondence with the Pretender ...

(3 W. & M. c. 13) :The

Treason Act 1695 The Treason Act 1695 (7 & 8 Will 3 c 3) is an Act of Parliament, Act of the Parliament of England which laid down rules of evidence and procedure in high treason trials. It was passed by the English Parliament but was extended to cover Scotland ...

(7 & 8 Will. 3 c. 3) :The

Security of King and Government Act 1695 The Security of King and Government Act 1695 (7&8 Will.3 c.27) was an Act of the Parliament of England. Its long title was ''An act for the better security of his Majesty's royal person and government''. It was passed in 1696 but backdated to t ...

(7 & 8 Will. 3 c. 27) :The

Coin Act 1696 The Coin Act 1696 (8&9 Will.3 c.26) was an Act of the Parliament of England which made it high treason to make or possess equipment useful for counterfeiting coins. Its title was "An Act for the better preventing the counterfeiting the current Co ...

(8 & 9 Will. 3 c. 26) :The

Correspondence with the Pretender Act 1697 The Correspondence with the Pretender Act 1697 ( 9 Will. 3. c. 1) was an Act of the Parliament of England which made it high treason to correspond with the deposed King James II. This Act replaced the earlier Correspondence with Enemies Act 1 ...

(9 Will. 3 c. 1) :The

Correspondence with James the Pretender (High Treason) Act 1701 The Correspondence with James the Pretender (High Treason) Act 1701 (13 & 14 Will. III, c. 3) was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England passed in 1701. The Act—the long title of which was "An Act for the Attainder of the pretend ...

(13 Will. 3 c. 3) :The

Security of the Succession, etc. Act 1701 The Security of the Succession, etc. Act 1701 (13 & 14 Will. 3. c. 6) was an Act of the Parliament of England. The Act required nearly all office-holders to take the oath of abjuration against James Francis Edward Stuart, pretender to the throne ...

(13 Will. 3 c. 6) ::''See also'' 1 Ann. c.9 :The Treason Act 1702 (1 Ann. St. 2 c. 21Some volumes cite it as c.17) (and the Treason Act (Ireland) 1703 (2 Ann. c. 5), which makes equivalent provision) :The

Mutiny Act 1703 The Mutiny Act 1703 (2 & 3 Anne c. 20) was one of the Mutiny Acts passed by the Parliament of England. Although its main purpose was to provide for the punishment of mutiny in the English Army and Royal Navy and other provisions for regulating the ...

(2 & 3 Anne c. 20) :The Correspondence with Enemies Act 1704 (3 Ann. c. 14) :The

Regency Act 1705 The Regency Act 1705 (4 Ann. c.8) was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England. The Act was passed at a time when Parliament was anxious to ensure that a Protestant succeeded to the throne on the death of Queen Anne. The Act was concei ...

(4 Ann. c. 8)

Great Britain

; 20 acts (1707–1799) :The Succession to the Crown Act 1707 (6 Ann. c. 7) :The

Treason Act 1708 The Treason Act 1708 (7 Ann c 21) is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which harmonised the law of high treason between the former kingdoms of England and Scotland following their union as Great Britain in 1707. This Act is partly st ...

(7 Ann. c. 21) ::''See also'' 7 Ann. c.25 :The Treason Act 1714 (1 Geo. 1 Stat. 2 c. 33) ::''See also'' 1 Geo.1 Stat.2 c.20 and 1 Geo.1 Stat.2 c.50 :The Coin Act 1732 (6 Geo. 2 c. 26) :The Counterfeiting Coin Act 1741 (15 Geo. 2 c. 28) :The

Treason Act 1743 The Treason Act 1743Walker. A Legal History of Scotland. W Green. 1988Volume 5 pp 531 & 542. (17 Geo.II c.39) was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which made it high treason to correspond with any of the sons of James Francis Edward Stu ...

(17 Geo. 2 c. 39) : The

Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1745 The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1745 ( 19 Geo. 2. c. 1) was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of Great Britain passed on 18 October 1745, and formally repealed in 1867. It made various provisions for arresting and imprisoning those susp ...

(19 Geo. 2 c. 1) :The Jurors (Scotland) Act 1745 (19 Geo. 2 c. 9) ::''see also'' 19 Geo.II c.26 :The Treason Act 1746 (20 Geo. 2 c. 30) ::''see also'' 20 Geo. 2 c. 41 and c. 46 :The

Sheriffs (Scotland) Act 1747 The Sheriffs (Scotland) Act 1747 (21 Geo.II c.19) was an Act of the Parliament of Great BritainThe Act was actually passed in 1748, but is listed under 1747 because under the common law Acts of Parliament took effect retrospectively from the b ...

(21 Geo. 2 c. 19) :The Treason Outlawries (Scotland) Act 1748 (22 Geo. 2 c. 48) :The Treason Act 1760 (33 Geo. 2 c. 26) (revived the expired

) :The Treason Act 1766 (6 Geo. 3 c. 53) :The

Treason Act 1777 The Treason Act 1777 (17 Geo.3 c.9) was an Act of Parliament, Act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed during the American Revolution. It required that anyone who was charged with or suspected of high treason or piracy in America or on the hi ...

(17 Geo. 3 c. 9) :The

Treason Act 1790 The Treason Act 1790 (30 Geo 3 c 48) was an Act of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain which abolished burning at the stake as the penalty for women convicted of high treason, petty treason and abetting, procuring or counselling petty ...

(30 Geo. 3 c. 48) :The Correspondence with Enemies Act 1793 (33 Geo. 3 c. 27) :The

Treason Act 1795 The Treason Act 1795 (sometimes also known as the Treasonable and Seditious Practices Act) (36 Geo. 3 c. 7) was one of the Two Acts introduced by the British government in the wake of the stoning of King George III on his way to open Parl ...

(36 Geo. 3 c. 7) :The Counterfeiting Coin Act 1797 (37 Geo. 3 c. 126) :The Correspondence with Enemies Act 1798 (38 Geo. 3 c. 28) :The Treason Act 1799 (39 Geo. 3 c. 93)

United Kingdom

; 16 acts (1800–2013) :The

Treason Act 1800 The Treason Act 1800 (39 & 40 Geo.3 c.93) was an Act of Parliament, Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain. It assimilated the procedure on trials for treason and misprision of treason to the procedure o ...

(39 & 40 Geo. 3 c. 93) :The

Treason Act 1814 The Treason Act 1814 (54 Geo. III c. 146) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland which modified the penalty for high treason for male convicts. Originally the mandatory sentence for a man convicted of hi ...

(54 Geo. 3 c. 146) :The

Treason Act 1817 The Treason Act 1817 (57 Geo 3 c 6) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It made it high treason to assassinate the Prince Regent. It also made permanent the Treason Act 1795, which had been due to ...

(57 Geo. 3 c. 6) :The Treason (Ireland) Act 1821 (1 & 2 Geo. 4 c. 24) :The

Forgery Act 1830 The Forgery Act 1830 (11 Geo 4 & 1 Will 4 c 66) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It consolidated into one Act all legislation imposing the death penalty for forgery (except for counterfeiting coins). (It did not apply to Scotl ...

(11 Geo. 4 & 1 Will. 4 c. 66) :The Regency Act 1830 (1 Will. 4 c. 2) :The

Coinage Offences Act 1832 The Coinage Offences Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. IV c.34) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It consolidated into one Act all offences concerning the counterfeiting and clipping of coins. Such conduct was ...

(2 & 3 Will. 4 c. 34) :The Regency Act 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 52) :The

Treason Act 1842 The Treason Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vict. c.51) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was passed early in the reign of Queen Victoria. The last person to be convicted under the Act was Marcus Sarjeant in 198 ...

(5 & 6 Vict. c. 51) :The

Treason Felony Act 1848 The Treason Felony Act 1848 (11 & 12 Vict. c. 12) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Parts of the Act are still in force. It is a law which protects the King and the Crown. The offences in the Act w ...

(11 & 12 Vict. c. 12) :The

Treason (Ireland) Act 1854 The Treason (Ireland) Act 1854 (17 & 18 Vict. c. 26) is an Act of Parliament, Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It extended part of the Treason Act 1708 to Ireland, specific ...

(17 & 18 Vict. c. 26) :The

Forgery Act 1861 The Forgery Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict c 98) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (as it then was). It consolidated provisions related to forgery from a number of earlier statutes into a single Act. For the ...

(24 & 25 Vict. c. 98) :The

Treachery Act 1940 The Treachery Act 1940 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom effective during World War II to facilitate the prosecution and execution of enemy spies, suspended afterwards, and repealed in 1968 or 1973, territory depending. The law ...

(3 & 4 Geo. 6 c. 40) :The

Treason Act 1945 The Treason Act 1945 (8 & 9 Geo.6 c.44) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was introduced into the House of Lords as a purely procedural statute, whose sole purpose was to abolish the old and highly technical procedure in ca ...

(8 & 9 Geo. 6 c. 44) :The

Succession to the Crown Act 2013 The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 (c. 20) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered the laws of succession to the British throne in accordance with the 2011 Perth Agreement. The Act replaced male-preference primogeniture ...

(2013 c. 20) (amends the Treason Act 1351)

Ireland

Kingdom of Ireland

:The

(28 Hen. 8 c. 7) :The

(33 Hen. 8 c. 1 (I. Sect. II) :The Act of Supremacy (Ireland) 1560 (2 Eliz. 1 c. 1) :The Treason Act (Ireland) 1703 (2 Ann. c. 5 (I.)) :The Treason Act (Ireland) 1765 (5 Geo. 3 c. 21 (I.)) :The

Treason by Women Act (Ireland) 1796 The Treason by Women Act (Ireland) 1796 (36 Geo 3 c 31 (I)) was an Act of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Ireland which reduced the penalty for women convicted of high treason and petty treason from death by burning to death by hanging. It was ...

(36 Geo. 3 c. 31)

United Kingdom

:The Treason (Ireland) Act 1821 (1 & 2 Geo. 4 c. 24) :The

(17 & 18 Vict. c. 26)

Republic of Ireland

:The Treasonable Offences Act 1925 (repealed in 1939) :The

Treason Act 1939 The Treason Act 1939 is an Act of the Oireachtas (Parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. It provides for the punishment of treason and related offences. Article 39 of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland defines treason as follows: Section 1 of ...

Notes

{{UK legislation Treason Laws in the United Kingdom