Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776

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Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An act to empower his Majesty to secure and detain persons charged with, or suspected of, the crime of high treason, committed in any of his Majesty's colonies or plantations in America, or on the high seas, or the crime of piracy.
Citation 17 Geo. 3. c. 9
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent 3 March 1776
Commencement 31 October 1776 [a]
Expired1 January 1778 [b]
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
Amended by
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 (17 Geo. 3. c. 9), also known as the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1777 or the Treason Act 1777, was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed during the American Revolution. It required that anyone who was charged with or suspected of high treason or piracy in America or on the high seas be held in custody without bail or trial until 1 January 1778. Bail could only be granted by an order of the Privy Council, signed by six members of the council. [1]

Contents

Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1778
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An Act for continuing an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with or suspected of the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation 18 Geo. 3. c. 1
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent 10 December 1777
Commencement 20 November 1777 [a]
Expired1 January 1779 [b]
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Relates to
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1779
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An Act for further continuing an Act, made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation 19 Geo. 3. c. 1
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent 16 December 1778
Commencement 26 November 1778 [a]
Expired1 January 1780 [b]
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Relates to
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1780
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An Act for further continuing an Act made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation 20 Geo. 3. c. 5
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent 15 December 1779
Commencement 25 November 1779 [a]
Expired1 January 1781 [b]
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Relates to
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1781
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An Act for further continuing an Act made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation 21 Geo. 3. c. 2
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent 27 November 1780
Commencement 31 October 1780 [a]
Expired1 January 1782 [b]
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Relates to
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1782
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An Act for further continuing an Act made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation 22 Geo. 3. c. 1
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent 20 December 1781
Commencement 27 November 1781 [a]
Expired1 January 1783 [b]
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871
Relates to
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The act was due to expire on 1 January 1778, but this was extended annually to 1 January of each successive year until 1 January 1783 by the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1778 (18 Geo. 3. c. 1), the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1779 (19 Geo. 3. c. 1), the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1780 (20 Geo. 3. c. 5), the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1781 (21 Geo. 3. c. 2) and the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1782 (20 Geo. 3. c. 1), when it was finally allowed to expire. [2]

The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 116).

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Start of session.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Section 1.

References

  1. Statutes at Large, vol. VIII, London: Eyre, Straham, Woodfall.
  2. Statutes at Large, vol. X (Index), London: Eyre, Straham, Woodfall (1786), "Plantations" para. 115.

See also