Final answer:
Treason in the United States is defined as levying war against the States or aiding enemies, and conviction requires two witness testimonies or a confession. Importantly, the Constitution precludes charging relatives of the accused. Despite the maximum penalty being death, no executions for treason have occurred in the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charges of treason against an individual for crimes against the United States are strictly defined and prosecuted under specific conditions. According to Section 3 of the Constitution, treason consists only of levying war against the States or aiding their enemies. To be convicted, there must be the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act or a confession in open court. Additionally, the Constitution protects against the punishment of relatives or descendants for a convict's crime, ensuring that charges of treason can only be brought against the individual who actually committed the crime.
Highlighting a historical example, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were executed for espionage, not treason, even though they were accused of delivering atomic secrets to Russia. It's noteworthy that although the maximum penalty for treason can be death, the United States has never executed anyone for the crime of treason.