Which amendment makes cruel and unusual punishment unconstitutional?

Which amendment makes cruel and unusual punishment unconstitutional?

• A. The 5th Amendment
• B. The 6th Amendment
• C. The 8th Amendment
• D. The 10th Amendment

Answer: (C)

The amendment that makes cruel and unusual punishment unconstitutional is the 8th Amendment. This amendment is a critical part of the Bill of Rights and was adopted in 1791. It explicitly prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or inflicting cruel and unusual punishments on individuals. The 8th Amendment has played a significant role in shaping the legal landscape concerning the treatment of individuals within the criminal justice system. It serves as a fundamental safeguard against inhumane treatment and has been the basis for numerous landmark Supreme Court rulings regarding the death penalty, prison conditions, and the treatment of detained individuals. The language of the amendment provides a framework for analyzing whether certain forms of punishment are proportionate to the offense committed, taking into account evolving standards of decency within society. This constitutional protection underscores the principle that punishment should be fair and not torturous or excessive, aligning with the values of a humane society.

The amendment that makes cruel and unusual punishment unconstitutional is the 8th Amendment. This amendment is a critical part of the Bill of Rights and was adopted in 1791. It explicitly prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or inflicting cruel and unusual punishments on individuals.

The 8th Amendment has played a significant role in shaping the legal landscape concerning the treatment of individuals within the criminal justice system. It serves as a fundamental safeguard against inhumane treatment and has been the basis for numerous landmark Supreme Court rulings regarding the death penalty, prison conditions, and the treatment of detained individuals. The language of the amendment provides a framework for analyzing whether certain forms of punishment are proportionate to the offense committed, taking into account evolving standards of decency within society.

This constitutional protection underscores the principle that punishment should be fair and not torturous or excessive, aligning with the values of a humane society.