A bill of attainder (also known as an act of attainder, writ of attainder, or bill of pains and penalties) is an act of a legislature declaring a person, or a group of people, guilty of some crime, and …

“Bills of attainder . . . are such special acts of the legislature, as inflict capital punishments upon persons supposed to be guilty of high offences, such as treason and felony, without any …

Aug 23, 2025 · A bill of attainder is a legislative act that declares a person or group guilty of a crime and imposes punishment without a judicial trial. Originating in English common law, …

Dec 6, 2018 · The term “Bill of Attainder” refers to the act of declaring a group of people guilty of a crime, and punishing them for it, usually without a trial. Officials have used bills of attainder to …

Aug 6, 2025 · The meaning of BILL OF ATTAINDER is a legislative act that imposes punishment without a trial.

A bill of attainder is legislation that imposes punishment on a specific person or group of people without a judicial trial. 1 The term has its roots in English law before the Founding.

Bills of attainder directly challenge the principle of due process, which guarantees that individuals cannot be punished without a fair trial. Since these legislative acts impose penalties without …

A bill of attainder is a legislative act that declares a person guilty of a crime without providing them the opportunity for a trial. This type of law typically applies in cases of treason or serious …

A bill of attainder, or punishment law, is a law that punishes a specific person or group without a trial, which is not allowed in the United States.

A legislative act that declares a named person guilty of a crime, particularly treason. Such bills are prohibited by Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution. Copyright © 2025 MH Sub I, …