Ex Post Facto Laws
Definition
These are laws that make an act illegal after it has been committed, or increases the penalties for an infraction after it has been committed.
Analogy
It's like eating cookies before dinner when there was no rule against it, but then being punished afterwards because your parents decided to create a new rule against eating cookies before dinner after you had already done so.
Related terms
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, outlining basic individual rights and liberties.
Constitutionalism: Adherence to or belief in constitutional government; respect for the constitution in governing affairs.
Retroactive Lawmaking: Making laws that apply to events in the past.
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