Bill Of Attainder (Noun)
Meaning
A legislative act finding a person guilty of treason or felony without a trial; "bills of attainder are prohibited by the Constitution of the United States".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The newly formed parliament passed a bill of attainder against the king's advisor, thereby condemning him to death without a trial.
- The use of bills of attainder was a common practice in medieval England, allowing monarchs to eliminate enemies and rivals without the need for due process.
- The framers of the US Constitution were well aware of the dangers of bills of attainder and therefore explicitly prohibited their use in Article I, Section 9.
- During the English Civil War, Parliament passed several bills of attainder against supporters of the monarchy, leading to arrests, executions, and seizures of property.
- Critics of the proposed law argued that it was effectively a bill of attainder, as it singled out specific individuals and groups for punishment without providing them a fair trial.