Prior to the act being passed, a person convicted of treason or felony automatically and permanently forfeited all of his lands and possessions to the Crown.

The old offence of praemunire, which was also punished with forfeiture, was only a misdemeanour, and so the act did not apply to it.

[5] Although the act is mostly repealed today, section 2 remains in force and states that anyone convicted of treason shall be disqualified from holding public office, shall lose his right to vote in elections (except in elections to local authorities),[6][7][8] and lose his pension (his pension can however be restored, in whole or in part, under section 70 of the Criminal Justice Act 1948).

Section 31 of the Forfeiture Act also abolished the final incarnation of the punishment of being hanged, drawn and quartered, which had been law in various forms since ancient times.

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