Legal Definitions - compassing

COMPASSING

Compassing refers to the act of planning or scheming, especially for something deceitful or illegal. In history, it was used to describe the act of plotting the death of a monarch or ruler.

During the 14th century, the Treason Act of 1351 made it a crime to compass the death of the sovereign. This meant that anyone who was caught planning or conspiring to kill the king or queen could be punished severely.

Another example of compassing can be seen in the Watergate scandal of the 1970s. President Nixon and his advisors were accused of compassing to cover up their involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

These examples illustrate how compassing involves planning or scheming for something that is usually illegal or unethical. In both cases, individuals were caught conspiring to commit a crime, and they were punished accordingly. The term compassing is not commonly used today, but it is still relevant in legal and historical contexts.