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Attainder means the extinguishment of a person's civil rights upon conviction of a crime, usually treason. The Constitution forbids Congress from passing a "bill of attainder". A bill of attainder is an act by the legislature that some particular person is guilty of a crime then taking away his rights all without the benefit of a trial in the courts. Such a practice would take away the rights to trial by jury, to face one's accusers and to be convicted only upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt among other rights citizens of this country have. The legislature has the right to pass laws to declare types of actions criminal and set the penalties for violating them, but it does not have the power to convict persons of those crimes.
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Can congress pass a bill of attainder?
According to Article I of the United States Constitution it is expressly forbidden for Congress to pass a bill of attainder. Since Congress is the law making body this means no one can pass bills of attainder in the United States.
What is the cancellation of civil rights called?
attainder
What did the framers of the constitution ban?
Bills of attainder.
A bill of attainder is a legislative act that inflicts punishment on a person without?
a court trial
Is a Bill of Attainder the same as Habeas Corpus?
No. The Constitution forbids Bills of Attainder, where the Congress declares a person to be guilty of a crime by passing legislation to that effect. The Constitution preserves the Writ of Habeas Corpus except under very limited and specific circumstances.
