What is the term for a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were committed before the law was enacted?

The term for a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were committed before the law was enacted is "Ex Post Facto Law." Such laws are significant because they disrupt the principle of legality, which holds that individuals should be able to understand what constitutes illegal behavior before engaging in it. The Constitution prohibits the enactment of ex post facto laws in order to protect individuals from being punished for actions that were not considered crimes at the time they were committed. This prohibition helps ensure justice and fairness in the legal system by maintaining stability in the law and preventing governments from enacting laws that can unjustly penalize individuals for past actions.

The other terms listed are not related to retroactive changes in law: the Miranda Ruling pertains to rights related to police interrogation, the Exclusionary Rule involves the inadmissibility of evidence obtained unlawfully, and Roe v. Wade is a landmark Supreme Court case regarding abortion rights. Each of these concepts addresses different aspects of legal rights and procedures rather than the principle of retroactive legality.