Is Obama's Canada Visit a Logan Act Violation? Fact-Checking Viral Claims

The Logan Act (18 U.S.C. § 953), passed in 1799, bars private US citizens from conducting unauthorized diplomacy with foreign governments involved in disputes with the US. For a violation to occur, a person must: Act without authority from the US government; communicate with a foreign government; do so with the intent to influence that government regarding an active dispute or controversy involving the US.