Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act 1919 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to continue and extend the provisions of the Aliens Restriction Act, 1914. |
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| Citation | 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 92 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 23 December 1919 |
| Commencement | 23 December 1919 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | The Aliens Restriction Act 1914 |
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Status: Amended
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act 1919 was a law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created right after the First World War ended. The main goal of this law was to keep some of the rules from an earlier law, the Aliens Restriction Act 1914. It also added new rules for people who were not British citizens, especially those who had been considered "enemy aliens" during the war.
This Act gave the government the power to create more detailed rules, like the Aliens Order 1920. Over time, many parts of this law were changed or removed. However, some important sections still remain. These include rules about causing trouble, working in the government, and serving on juries.
Contents
What was this Act about?
This law was passed to control who could enter and stay in the United Kingdom. It also set rules for how non-citizens, called "aliens," should behave. After a big war, governments often put in place special rules to keep their country safe. This Act was one of those rules. It helped the government manage people who were not citizens, especially those from countries that had been enemies during the war.
Rules for Non-Citizens
One of the most important parts of the Act was about keeping the peace. It made it illegal for non-citizens to cause trouble or disloyalty.
What is Sedition?
Section 3 of the Act dealt with "sedition" and "industrial unrest."
- Sedition means trying to make people rebel against the government. It also means trying to make soldiers or regular people disloyal. If a non-citizen tried to do this, they could face serious punishment. This could include a long time in prison.
- Industrial unrest means causing strikes or protests in workplaces. If a non-citizen tried to cause such trouble in an industry where they hadn't worked for at least two years, they could also face prison time.
The idea was to prevent non-citizens from stirring up problems in the country.
Other Important Rules
Even though many parts of the Act were changed, some rules still apply today.
- Working for the Government: Section 6 of the Act has rules about non-citizens working in the civil service. The civil service is made up of people who work for the government, like in ministries or public offices.
- Serving on Juries: Section 8 talks about non-citizens serving on juries. A jury is a group of citizens who decide if someone is guilty or innocent in a court case.
These sections show that the Act aimed to control various aspects of non-citizens' lives in the UK.
Changes Over Time
Many sections of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act 1919 have been removed or updated over the years. This happens often with old laws as society changes. For example, rules about pilotage certificates (for ship navigation) and employment on ships were later removed. Also, many temporary rules about former enemy aliens, like those about buying property, expired after a few years. This shows how laws adapt to new situations and needs.
See also
- Alien (law)
