GC: n
F: FL – https://bit.ly/2E8MDdh (last access: 2 December 2018); STUD – https://bit.ly/2PZRZOo (last access: 27 November 2018).
N: 1. “war waged against a government by some portion of its subjects,” mid-14c., from Old French rebellion (14c.) and directly from Latin rebellionem (nominative rebellio) “rebellion, revolt; renewal of war,” from rebellis.
2. According to Ballentine’s Law Dictionary (1969 ed.), Black’s Law Dictionary (1999 ed.), the Dictionary of English Law, by Earl Jowitt (1977 ed.), and the Oxford Companion to Law (1980 ed.), a rebellion is variously an unjust insurrection, an attempt by a substantial group to overthrow the lawfully constituted authority in a state or the taking up of arms traitorously.
3. Deliberate, organized resistance, by force and arms, to the laws or operations of the government, committed by a subject See Hubbard v. Harnden Exp. Co., 10 R. I. 247; State v. McDonald, 4 Port. (Ala.) 455; Crashley v. Press Pub. Co., 74 App. Div. 118, 77 N. Y. Supp. 711. In old English law, the term “rebellion” was also applied to contempt of a court manifested by disobedience to its process, particularly of the court of chancery. If a defendant refused to appear, after attachment and proclamation, a “commission of rebellion” issued against him. 3 Bl. Comm. 444.
4. The prohibition on rebellion and insurrection arises in a brief passage found in 18 U.S. Code, Section 2383. The law prohibits the incitement, assistance, and participation in a rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States and its laws. The punishment for this crime is a fine, a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and ineligibility for public office.
Rebellion and insurrection refer specifically to acts of violence against the state or its officers. This distinguishes the crime from sedition, which is the organized incitement to rebellion or civil disorder against the authority of the state. It also separates the crime from treason, which is the violation of allegiance owed to one’s country by betrayal or acting to aid the country’s enemies.
The crimes are easily confused, but if the party wasn’t acting on behalf of (or giving aid to) a foreign government they are unlikely to be charged with treason. Calls to rise up against the authority of the government by staging non-violent protests and strikes might be characterized as sedition (if they violated laws relating to these acts), but wouldn’t be considered rebellion or insurrection unless the incitement included calls for violent acts such as the destruction of government property or the assault of officers of the state.
5. Collocations:
– attempt to change the government:
- Adj. full-scale, major; minor, small; general, open; armed; military, peasant, popular.
- Verb + rebellion: rise (up) in; launch, raise (literary), stage; set off, spark off; foment, provoke (sb/sth to); threaten; join; take part in; lead; support; crush, put down, quell, suppress.
- Rebellion + verb: occur; begin, break out; fail.
- Prep. in rebellion; rebellion against; rebellion over.
– opposition to authority:
- Adj. adolescent, teenage, youthful.
- Rebellion + verb: stir.
- Prep. rebellion against.
- Phrases: an act of rebellion, a form of rebellion.
6. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the trilogy of The Hunger Games (2008-2010), written by American novelist Suzanne Collins.
S: 1. OED – https://bit.ly/2Sebq2I (last access: 27 November 2018). 2. TERMIUM PLUS – https://bit.ly/2zyyS3Z (last access: 27 November 2018). 3. TLD – https://bit.ly/2KNx3o6 (last access: 27 November 2018). 4. CFL – https://bit.ly/2E8MDdh (last access: 28 November 2018). 5. OCD – https://bit.ly/2RucRKe (last access: 2 December 2018). 6. The Guardian – https://bit.ly/2DUkENM (last access: 27 November 2018).
RC: sedition
