a set of four laws, formally known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by the US Congress in 1798 in response to the threat of war with France. Designed to destroy the political faction which expressed sympathy for France, the laws lengthened the residency requirement for citizenship, empowered the president to expel "dangerous" aliens and prohibited spoken or written criticism of the government. See also Congress in this glossary.—OEC - Government and Organization App Mar 91