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United States v. Arjona

United States Supreme Court

120 U.S. 479 (1887)

Facts

In the 1800s, Congress passed a law that criminalized counterfeit notes of a foreign bank or corporation. The law was established after Vattel, in his treaty on the law of nations, stated the importance of every nation guarding against its citizens counterfeiting the money of another nation in order to cultivate and promote harmony. However, the law Congress passed did not provide whether violating the law was punishable as an offense against the law of nations. The United States Supreme Court reviewed the law to determine whether a violation constituted an offense against the law of nations.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Waite, C.J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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