If any person shall write, print, utter or publish, . . or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the united states, or either house of the congress of the united states, or the president of the united states, with intent to defame. . or to bring them. . into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them. . the hatred of the good people of the united states, or to stir up sedition within the united states. . then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the united states having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.
—the sedition act, section 2

based on this excerpt, in what way did the national government overstep its authority by enacting the sedition act?

a.
the extremely high fine allowed the judicial branch to impose a cruel and unusual punishment.

b.
the act placed severe restrictions on several first amendment rights.

c.
the conviction of someone accused of this crime was automatic.

d.
the supreme court, not just any lower court, has jurisdiction for crimes of sedition.