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]
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| 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 | 3 March 1776 |
| Expired | 1 January 1778 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1871 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by |
|
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1778 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| 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 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 10 December 1777 |
| Commencement | 10 December 1777 |
| Expired | 1 January 1779 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1871 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1779 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| 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 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 December 1778 |
| Commencement | 16 December 1778 |
| Expired | 1 January 1780 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1871 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1780 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| 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 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 15 December 1779 |
| Commencement | 15 December 1779 |
| Expired | 1 January 1781 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1871 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1781 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| 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 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 November 1780 |
| Commencement | 27 November 1780 |
| Expired | 1 January 1782 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1871 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1782 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| 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 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 20 December 1781 |
| Commencement | 20 December 1781 |
| Expired | 1 January 1783 |
| Repealed | 21 August 1871 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
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, when it was finally allowed to expire.[2][3]
References
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