The specific charges against the defendants were first, that they conspired to overthrow the US government by violent means, and second, that they belonged to an organization that advocated the violent overthrow of the government.[4][5] The indictment, issued on June 29, 1948, asserted that the CPUSA had been in violation of the Smith Act since July 1945.[19] The twelve defendants, arrested in late July 1948, were all members of the National Board of the CPUSA:[19][20]