<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54092</law_id><section_number>18.2-481</section_number><catch_line>Treason defined; how proved and punished</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>17.1-805</reference><reference>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>53.1-202.3</reference><reference>53.1-40.02</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Offenses Against the Sovereignty of the Commonwealth</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Treason and Related Offenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Treason shall consist only in:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Levying war against the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-198554" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-481/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort; <a id="paragraph-198555" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-481/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Establishing, without authority of the legislature, any government within its limits separate from the existing government; <a id="paragraph-198556" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-481/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Holding or executing, in such usurped government, any office, or professing allegiance or fidelity to it; or <a id="paragraph-198557" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-481/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Resisting the execution of the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> under color of its authority.
			Such treason, if proved by the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of two witnesses to the same overt act, or by <span class="dictionary">confession</span> in <span class="dictionary">court</span>, shall be punishable as a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-198558" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-481/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-418; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
