What does the 8th amendment say in simple terms?

Asked by: Vanessa Morar  |  Last update: September 2, 2022
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The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution

the United States Constitution
The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention—now known as the Constitutional Convention—which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. It was signed on September 17, 1787.
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states: “Excessive bail
Excessive bail
The Excessive Bail Clause of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits excessive bail set in pre-trial detention. If a judge posts excessive bail, the defendant's lawyer may make a motion in court to lower the bail or appeal directly to a higher court.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Excessive_Bail_Clause
shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
cruel and unusual punishments
Cruel and unusual punishment is a phrase in common law describing punishment that is considered unacceptable due to the suffering, pain, or humiliation it inflicts on the person subjected to the sanction.
https://en.wikipedia.org › Cruel_and_unusual_punishment
inflicted
.” This amendment prohibits the federal government from imposing unduly harsh penalties on criminal defendants, either as the price for obtaining ...

What does the 8th Amendment mean in kid words?

The Eighth Amendment was part of the Bill of Rights that was added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791. This amendment insures that the punishments for crimes are not excessive, cruel, or unusual.

What does the 8th Amendment actually say?

Constitution of the United States

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

What is the 8th Amendment and why is it important?

Eighth Amendment Protections Against Cruel Punishments, Excessive Bail, and Excessive Fines. The Eighth Amendment provides three essential protections for those accused of a crime, on top of those found in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments: It prohibits excessive bail and fines, as well as cruel and unusual punishments.

What does the 9th amendment say in simple terms?

The Ninth Amendment of the United States Constitution states that the federal government doesn't own the rights that are not listed in the Constitution, but instead, they belong to citizens. This means the rights that are specified in the Constitution are not the only ones people should be limited to.

The Eighth Amendment Explained: The Constitution for Dummies Series

33 related questions found

What does the 10th Amendment say in simple terms?

The Tenth Amendment says that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution. If it isn't listed, it belongs to the states or to the people.

What does the 10th Amendment mean for dummies?

The Tenth Amendment was part of the Bill of Rights that was added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791. This amendment states that any power not specifically given to the federal government by the Constitution belongs to the States and the people. From the Constitution.

What is an example of the Eighth Amendment being used?

Seizures of homes and property for drug crimes are common occurrences in society today, and the practice is allowed under the 8th Amendment. The amendment does, however, ban egregious and excessive bail and fines, even for drug offenses.

What violates the 8th Amendment?

The Eighth Amendment prohibits the government from subjecting a person found guilty of a crime to cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court has held that any condition that amounts to “the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain” violates the Eighth Amendment.

What is an example of violating the 8th Amendment?

William Furman was sentenced to death after he was found guilty of murder while he was attempting to burglarize a house. Furman appealed before the court. According to Justice Potter Stewart, the death penalty was clearly handed out to Furman mainly because he was a black man. Thus, it violated the Eighth Amendment.

What are the 3 main components of the 8th Amendment?

It contains three clauses, which limit the amount of bail associated with a criminal infraction, the fines that may be imposed, and also the punishments that may be inflicted.

What is cruel and unusual punishment examples?

Examples of Court Rulings on Cruel and Unusual Punishment

execution of those who are insane. a 56-year term for forging checks totaling less than $500. handcuffing a prisoner to a horizontal bar exposed to the sun for several hours, and. a life-without-parole sentence for a juvenile who has not committed homicide.

What counts as cruel and unusual punishment?

Punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. Cruel and unusual punishment includes torture, deliberately degrading punishment, or punishment that is too severe for the crime committed.

Is the death penalty a violation of the 8th Amendment?

The Supreme Court has ruled that the death penalty does not violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment, but the Eighth Amendment does shape certain procedural aspects regarding when a jury may use the death penalty and how it must be carried out.

Why is the 8th Amendment controversial?

The 8th Amendment is controversial because the terms 'cruel and unusual' have been considered subjective terms and the courts have been divided on how to read the 8th Amendment. For example, the death penalty is still legal in some states while other states find it cruel and unusual.

What is it called when the punishment doesn't fit the crime?

Such a severe punishment dished out to deter others from committing the same crime is sometimes called exemplary.

Why is the 8th Amendment important quizlet?

why is the 8th so important? because it protects the individual from excessive bail or fines, and from "cruel and unusual punishments." the law enforcement system and the judicial system would take advantage of their power.

What does the 11th Amendment mean in simple terms?

The Eleventh Amendment's text prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states. The Amendment has also been interpreted to mean that state courts do not have to hear certain suits against the state, if those suits are based on federal law.

What does the 13th Amendment mean for dummies?

The 13th Amendment forever abolished slavery as an institution in all U.S. states and territories. In addition to banning slavery, the amendment outlawed the practice of involuntary servitude and peonage. Involuntary servitude or peonage occurs when a person is coerced to work in order to pay off debts.

What does the 13th Amendment mean in simple terms?

Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or ...

What does the 12th Amendment mean in simple terms?

The Twelfth Amendment requires a person to receive a majority of the electoral votes for vice president for that person to be elected vice president by the Electoral College. If no candidate for vice president has a majority of the total votes, the Senate, with each senator having one vote, chooses the vice president.

What is the 15th Amendment in simple terms?

The 15th Amendment guaranteed African-American men the right to vote. Almost immediately after ratification, African Americans began to take part in running for office and voting.

What crimes are punishable by death?

The capital offenses include espionage, treason, and death resulting from aircraft hijacking. However, they mostly consist of various forms of murder such as murder committed during a drug-related drive-by shooting, murder during a kidnapping, murder for hire, and genocide.