>>Treason is one such term; it is interesting to note that besieging DC would NOT be an act of treason under the Constitution as DC is NOT a state.
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>But since D.C is part of the United States then yes, it would.
Let’s see what the Constitution says, here is Sec. 3 of Art. 3:
“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted
of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
1) Note the plural of “them” in the sentence, obviously this indicates that the states themselves are being referenced.
2) Secondly, note that nobody is to be convicted of Treason except on a) confession in an open court, OR b) the testimonies of at least two people.
3) Section 8 of Article 1 says, in part, this:
“To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be”
This is referring to what would later become Washington DC; note that is is specifically NOT a state, but rather a district.
4) Note the second part of the definition of Treason: “or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort” this can be quite nicely illustrated by the so called “sanctuary cities” where the local governance acts in defiance of laws AND allows those who could rightly be considered invaders more than just a little protection.
Therefore, while an attack [by a foreign power] on DC would rightly be considered an Act of War as it is an assault upon the seat of our governance, it is not Treason for the people, or even several states, to besiege that city. Perhaps Sedition, but that has a different definition.
Notice the term "United States" which refers to the country as a whole. All the country. When other nations dealt with the United States or waged war on them, they waged war on the country and not X number of separate entities. Likewise, when the United States dealt with other nations it did so as a single sovereign entity.
Therefore, while an attack [by a foreign power] on DC would rightly be considered an Act of War as it is an assault upon the seat of our governance, it is not Treason for the people, or even several states, to besiege that city. Perhaps Sedition, but that has a different definition.
I believe you are wrong in your conclusion. Regardless, how can one commit treason against D.C. or a single state? If captured, do you say, "I was only fighting those D.C. people. I never shot at anyone from Alabama or Illinois?"