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In reply to the discussion: Isn't it time we took down Fox "NEWS"? [View all]jody
(26,624 posts)50. Apparently few have read the Sedition Act so I post it below.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_Statutes_at_Large/Volume_1/5th_Congress/2nd_Session/Chapter_74
Known as the "Sedition Act", this act is the last of the four that make up the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Known as the "Sedition Act", this act is the last of the four that make up the Alien and Sedition Acts.
July 14, 1798.
[Expired.]
Chap. LXXIV.An Act in addition to the act, entitled "An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States."
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, Penalty on unlawful combinations to oppose the measures of government, &c.
Ante, p. 112.That if any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States, which are or shall be directed by proper authority, or to impede the operation of any law of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding a place or office in or under the government of the United States, from undertaking, performing or executing his trust or duty; And with such intent counselling &c. insurrections, riots, &c.and if any person or persons, with intent as aforesaid, shall counsel, advise or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot, unlawful assembly, or combination, whether such conspiracy, threatening, counsel, advice, or attempt shall have the proposed effect or not, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction, before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof; shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment during a term not less than six months nor exceeding five years; and further, at the discretion of the court may be holden to find sureties for his good behaviour in such sum, and for such time, as the said court may direct.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, Penalty on libelling the government That if any person shall write, print, utter or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either house of the said Congress, or the said President, or to bring them, or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to stir up sedition within the United States, or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of the President of the United States, done in pursuance of any such law, or of the powers in him vested by the constitution of the United States, or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such law or act, or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign nation against the United States, their people or government, then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted and declared, Truth of the matter may be given in evidence.
The jury shall determine the law and the fact, under the court's direction.
Limitation. That if any person shall be prosecuted under this act, for the writing or publishing any libel aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the defendant, upon the trial of the cause, to give in evidence in his defence, the truth of the matter contained in the publication charged as a libel. And the jury who shall try the cause, shall have a right to determine the law and the fact, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force until the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and one, and no longer: Provided, that the expiration of the act shall not prevent or defeat a prosecution and punishment of any offence against the law, during the time it shall be in force.
Approved, July 14, 1798.
[Expired.]
Chap. LXXIV.An Act in addition to the act, entitled "An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States."
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, Penalty on unlawful combinations to oppose the measures of government, &c.
Ante, p. 112.That if any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States, which are or shall be directed by proper authority, or to impede the operation of any law of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding a place or office in or under the government of the United States, from undertaking, performing or executing his trust or duty; And with such intent counselling &c. insurrections, riots, &c.and if any person or persons, with intent as aforesaid, shall counsel, advise or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot, unlawful assembly, or combination, whether such conspiracy, threatening, counsel, advice, or attempt shall have the proposed effect or not, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction, before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof; shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment during a term not less than six months nor exceeding five years; and further, at the discretion of the court may be holden to find sureties for his good behaviour in such sum, and for such time, as the said court may direct.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, Penalty on libelling the government That if any person shall write, print, utter or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either house of the said Congress, or the said President, or to bring them, or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to stir up sedition within the United States, or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of the President of the United States, done in pursuance of any such law, or of the powers in him vested by the constitution of the United States, or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such law or act, or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign nation against the United States, their people or government, then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted and declared, Truth of the matter may be given in evidence.
The jury shall determine the law and the fact, under the court's direction.
Limitation. That if any person shall be prosecuted under this act, for the writing or publishing any libel aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the defendant, upon the trial of the cause, to give in evidence in his defence, the truth of the matter contained in the publication charged as a libel. And the jury who shall try the cause, shall have a right to determine the law and the fact, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force until the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and one, and no longer: Provided, that the expiration of the act shall not prevent or defeat a prosecution and punishment of any offence against the law, during the time it shall be in force.
Approved, July 14, 1798.
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The courts have held that cable has first amendment rights closer to those of newspapers than
onenote
Dec 2012
#43
As long as you're prepared for a Republican FCC to do the same thing to MSNBC or Current...
brooklynite
Dec 2012
#77
I don't care if it's cable, sat or rabbit ears.. a lie is a lie, slander is slander n/m
Rosco T.
Dec 2012
#23
Imagine what society would be like if we replaced all RW media with educational programming instead
JaneyVee
Dec 2012
#2
Imagine what society would be like if the Constitution allowed the government to make those
onenote
Dec 2012
#44
Please read the Sedition Act. OP has every thing to do with it because the OP wants to punish
jody
Dec 2012
#42
I have daydreamed trying to organize 20M people to each buy $50 stock & then proxy votes
Turn CO Blue
Dec 2012
#20
I agree. Cable or no, it's a different animal when they are causing the whole country to have
loudsue
Dec 2012
#22
As I now ONLY watch Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC and none of the others...
graham4anything
Dec 2012
#27
Canada FAUX is an "Entertainment Network" IF ya' ACT like clowns, it's just truth in advertising.
Tigress DEM
Dec 2012
#31
They're Already Starting To Take Themselves Down...and the Rushpublicans with them...
KharmaTrain
Dec 2012
#34
Something similar would fill the void. Apparently there is a market for their point of view.
Throd
Dec 2012
#41
So, they were against it and so are you against charges of (libel) sedition, I'm guessing.
freshwest
Dec 2012
#82
I support nullification as Jefferson and Madison defined it in their KY & VA resolutions. nt
jody
Dec 2012
#85
As far as states' rights go, that interpretation has been abused to deny human rights..
freshwest
Dec 2012
#86
Perhaps, but because the other stations must mind regulations according to their license, it keeps
Cleita
Dec 2012
#63
Here's an example of how Sun News doesn't seem to be restrained by Canadian law
onenote
Dec 2012
#68
Yes, but the fact is they aren't taken seriously because they aren't dominating the whole
Cleita
Dec 2012
#69
I'm not the person making stuff up here and although I do respect the Pew Center,
Cleita
Dec 2012
#79
I heard a commercial on the radio that Fox News is the only radio news station in SW Florida.
Michigan Alum
Dec 2012
#64
I would like to see this happen but the only way we can do it is through their advertisers like
jwirr
Dec 2012
#66
what is an example of something they have said or done in the past that you believe
arely staircase
Dec 2012
#70
I am pro-choice on this issue. I don't like Fox, so I choose not to watch it.
Nye Bevan
Dec 2012
#88