MaggieMae
Reality bits
- Apr 3, 2009
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- 48
"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted."
The United States was referred to in the plural, clearly pertaining to the separate and individual states making up the Union. ihopehefails is correct.
Clearly, Article III discusses judicial power of the United States as a collective body politic. If it was intended to mean individual states, the clause would have been preceded by the words "any of [the states]" or "levying war against any of them..." etc.