President Clinton was acquited of obstruction of justice charges in his impeachment trial, a two-thirds majority vote having been necessary to convict.
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Explore current and historical political parties, map party control, and learn about polarization.
Under the direction of President John Adams, the Congress passed the Sedition Act of 1798, which made it a criminal offence to publish statements critical of the federal government. The first individual to be tried under the law was Rep. Matthew Lyon, who unsurprisingly had voted against its passage. Lyon was re-elected from jail.
In 1882, Congress passed the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act, which prohibited polygamy and 'unlawful cohabitation'. The Act set off a series of court cases which culminated in the disincorporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.