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A law that retroactively changes the legal consequences (or status) of actions committed or relationships that existed prior to the enactment of the law

Added: In plain English - it defines a law that retroactively makes something illegal. Although not all countries have such a prohibition, in the US, they are forbidden by Article 1 Section 9 of the United States Constitution.

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12y ago
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11y ago

An ex post facto law is a law that retrospectively changes the legal consequences of actions that were committed. An ex post facto law is one that is made retroactive to punish an act that wasn't illegal at the time it was committed.

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13y ago
  1. Article 1, Section 9 "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed."
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11y ago

A law that applies to a crime committed before the law was passed

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Q: What exactly is an ex post facto law?
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Related questions

A retroactive criminal law is called a?

Ex post facto law


What term means to punish someone for something that was not illegal when it was done?

The legal term for a law that has criminal penalties that effect people prior to the enactment of that law is called an "ex-post facto law". Ex-post facto laws are illegal in most countries and the US Constitution expressly forbids the creation or passage of an ex-post facto law.


What is name of a law that makes something a crime after the fact?

Ex Post Facto law "Congress shall pass no Ex Post Facto law", I believe is how it appears in the constitution. It is latin for after the fact.


What type of law punishes a person for doing something that was not illegal at the time it was done?

That would be making a law retroactive to a date before the passing of the law. The US Constitution forbids doing it. That would be known as an Ex Post Facto Law and is unconstitutional.


Is it true an ex post facto law is a law that makes an act illegal after the act has been committed?

Yes, an ex post facto law cannot impose punishment on a person who committed an act before it was illegal. This includes increasing the severity of the punishment from what it was when the crime was committed. Ex post facto applies to criminal law and not civil law as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Also, some laws, for example the sex offenders registry, are considered a regulatory device for public safety and not a punitive action. no ex-post facto law after the fact. no ex-post facto law after the fact.


Ex de facto?

The Ex Post Facto law is a law that can go backward and change the legal consequences. In Latin, it means "after the facts."


What type of law is the ex post facto law?

An ex post facto law is a law which is retroactive. This type of law allows for criminal punishments for previous deeds which were considered legal at the time. It may also alter the punishment of a crime. Within the United States, each state is prohibited from passing ex post facto laws, however the Federal branch of the government is allowed to enact an ex post facto law.


Can congress write ex post facto law?

yes


Which term applies to this scenario?

ex post facto law


What law to punish a man for something that was not against the law when he did it is called?

An ex post facto law. Ex post facto laws are forbidden by the US Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Clause 3.


Kind of law that is expressly forbidden by the constitution?

"Ex post facto", or "after the fact" laws, and Bills of Attainder, which specifically seize the property of named persons.


What is an example of ex post facto law in the Philippines?

An example of an ex post facto law in the Philippines is one that retroactively criminalizes behavior that was not considered a crime when it occurred. For instance, passing a law that makes a certain action illegal and then punishing individuals who committed that action before the law was enacted would be considered an ex post facto law.