Interpreting the Constitution (5A/8A) Check for Understanding

The court doesn’t believe any punishment is “cruel and unusual” if someone is a criminal.  

• True

• False

Whether a punishment is “cruel and unusual” under the Constitution often depends on the details of the situation. 

• True

• False

“Cruel and unusual” under the Constitution might be different from your personal definition of what is cruel. 

• True

• False

It’s easy to figure out whether a situation qualifies as “cruel and unusual” punishment.  

• True

• False

The 8th amendment only applies where someone has committed a crime, not in other situations.

• True

• False

The Court has a list of “cruel and unusual” punishments that it uses to decide the case. 

• True

• False

The Court sometimes considers whether officials intended to cause pain and suffering. 

• True

• False

The death penalty is considered cruel and unusual  as applied to some groups of people but not others. 

• True

• False

“Compelled” means “forced”

• True

• False

With the 5th Amendment, the Court is worried about police wrongdoing that forces a confession

• True

• False