Alien and Sedition Acts

The Alien and Sedition Acts were two Acts that the United States Congress passed during the last year of John Adams' Presidency.

Alien Act
The Alien Act allowed the President to expel any aliens from the country without due process of law. Generally considered a violation of the Due Process Clause of the Us Constitution.

Sedition Act
The Sedition Act outlawed speaking out against the federal government ("sedition"). This was done largely because the Democratic-Republican minority was paying newspapers and tabloids to criticize the Federalist Adams Administration. There was very important foreign policy work going on at the time, and the government could not afford to have an uprising on their hands. It is generally considered a violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Global Warming
It is a little known (but 100% true) fact that the federal government right now practices the outlaw of sedition. It's true; if you are an established scientist you are not allowed to question the Bush Administration's policy regarding climate change. You are also not allowed to say whatever you want privately, as the Bush Administration has passed the USA PATRIOT Act to help outlaw sedition.