Rebellion

In criminal law. The taking up arms traitorously against the government; the forcible opposition and resistance to the laws and process lawfully issued. If the rebellion amount to treason, it is punished by the laws of the United States with death. If it be a mere resistance of process, it is generally punished by fine and imprisonment. See Dalloz; Pen. Code, 209.

The taking up arms traitorously against the government. The forcible opposition and resistance to the laws and process lawfully issued. Insurrection; sedition, rebellion, revolt, and mutiny express action directed against government or authority, while riot has this implication only incidentally, if at all. They express actual and open resistance to authority. Except sedition, which may be secret or open, and often is only of a nature to lead to overt acts. An insurrection goes beyond sedition, in that it is an actual arising actually to overthrow the government, while an insurrection seeks only some change of minor importance. A rebellion is generally on a larger scale than an insurrection. A revolt has generally the same aim as a rebellion, but it is on a smaller scale. A revolt may be against military government, but is generally like insurrection, sedition, and rebellion against civil government. A mutiny is organized resistance to law in an army or navy, and sometimes a similar act by an individual. The success of a rebellion often dignifies it with the name of a revolution. Cent. Diet. One who incites, etc., rebellion or insurrection against the United States or gives aid or comfort thereto shall be imprisoned not more than ten years or fined not more than $10, or both; and be incapable of holding office under the United States Cr. Code, § 4. When a rebellion has broken out in any state, the rebel cruisers may be treated as pirates by the established government, if the rebel government has not been recognized as belligerent by the parent state or by foreign nations; but the right ceases to exist on the recognition of the rebels as belligerents; Miller v. U. S., 11 Wall. (U. S.) 208, 20 L. Ed. 135; Boyd’s Wheat. Int. Law 109.

Deliberate, organized resistance, by force and arms, to the laws or operations of the government, committed by a subject. See Hubbard v. Hamden Exp. Ch, 10 R. I. 247; State v. McDonald, 4 Port. (Ala.) 455; Crashley v. Press Pub. Ch, 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.

— Rebellion, commission of. In equity practice. A process of contempt issued on the non-appearance of a defendant.

v. Commission.

v. Commission, 8.