Eighth Amendment To The United States Constitution

Eighth Amendment To The United States Constitution

The Eighth Amendment (Amendment VIII) to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights prohibiting the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause applies to the states. The phrases employed originated in the English Bill of Rights of 1689.

Read more about Eighth Amendment To The United States Constitution:  Background, Cruel and Unusual Punishments, Evolving Standards of Decency, Excessive Fines, Excessive Bail

Famous quotes containing the words eighth, amendment, united, states and/or constitution:

    If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
    Bible: New Testament, Philippians 3:4-6.

    Every family should extend First Amendment rights to all its members, but this freedom is particularly essential for our kids. Children must be able to say what they think, openly express their feelings, and ask for what they want and need if they are ever able to develop an integrated sense of self. They must be able to think their own thoughts, even if they differ from ours. They need to have the opportunity to ask us questions when they don’t understand what we mean.
    Stephanie Martson (20th century)

    All comes united to th’ admiring eyes;
    Alexander Pope (1688–1744)

    Colonel “Bat” Guano: Okay, I’m going to get your money for you. But if you don’t get the President of the United States on that phone, you know what’s going to happen to you?
    Group Captain Lionel Mandrake: What?
    Colonel “Bat” Guano: You’re going to have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.
    Stanley Kubrick (b. 1928)

    At present the globe goes with a shattered constitution in its orbit.... No doubt the simple powers of nature, properly directed by man, would make it healthy and a paradise; as the laws of man’s own constitution but wait to be obeyed, to restore him to health and happiness.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)