Legal Definitions - treason

Treason is when someone betrays their own country by attempting to overthrow the government through waging war against the state or helping its enemies. In the United States, the Constitution defines treason as levying war against the country or giving aid and comfort to its enemies.

If someone is found guilty of treason, they can be punished with imprisonment or even death. They may also be barred from holding any office under the United States.

• Joining a group that plans to overthrow the government by force
• Providing weapons or information to an enemy of the United States during a war
• Sharing classified information with a foreign government that could harm the United States

These examples illustrate how someone can commit treason by either directly attacking the government or by aiding its enemies. In both cases, the person is betraying their own country and putting it at risk.