The Powell Doctrine, also referred to as the Corrupt-Motive Doctrine, is a principle in criminal law which stipulates that a conspiracy can only be subject to punishment if the agreement was formed with malicious intent, rather than solely with the intention to engage in an unlawful act. Consequently, individuals who plan to commit an illegal act without harboring ill intentions cannot be prosecuted for conspiracy. The Powell Doctrine was established in the 1875 court case People v. Powell, but it has been disregarded by the Model Penal Code.
The Powell Doctrine, also referred to as the Corrupt-Motive Doctrine, is a legal principle in criminal law that stipulates that a conspiracy can only be punishable if the agreement was made with an evil intent, rather than just the intention to commit an illegal act. For instance, if two individuals devise a plan to rob a bank, but one of them has no genuine intention of carrying it out and is merely pretending to be part of the plan, they cannot be charged with conspiracy under the Powell Doctrine because they lack an evil purpose. This doctrine originated in the 1875 case of People v. Powell and has been rejected by the Model Penal Code. Nevertheless, it is still applied in certain jurisdictions.
The Powell Doctrine is a set of guidelines for the use of military force, developed by former US Secretary of Defense Colin Powell in the 1980s.
The key principles of the Powell Doctrine include clear political objectives, overwhelming force, and a clear exit strategy.
The Powell Doctrine was first used during the Gulf War in 1991.
The success of the Powell Doctrine in achieving its objectives has been debated, with some arguing that it has been successful in certain situations, while others argue that it has not been effective in achieving long-term stability.
The Powell Doctrine has had a significant influence on US foreign policy, particularly in the use of military force.
The relevance of the Powell Doctrine today is a matter of debate, with some arguing that it is still a useful framework for decision-making, while others argue that it is outdated and needs to be revised.
Some criticisms of the Powell Doctrine include that it is too focused on military force and does not take into account other factors such as diplomacy and economic sanctions.
The Powell Doctrine is not a legal framework, but it does have implications for international law, particularly in terms of the use of force and the responsibility to protect.
The Powell Doctrine has been used as a framework for decision-making in other countries, particularly in the UK and Australia.
There are a number of alternative frameworks for decision-making in the use of military force, including the Weinberger Doctrine and the Obama Doctrine.
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This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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