Understanding the Eighth Amendment

What is the primary purpose of the Eighth Amendment?

• To allow cruel punishments

• To promote unusual punishments

• To encourage harsh penalties

• To outlaw cruel and unusual punishment

Which historical document influenced the inclusion of the Eighth Amendment in the Bill of Rights?

• The Federalist Papers

• The Declaration of Independence

• The English Bill of Rights

• The Magna Carta

Why was the Eighth Amendment added to the Bill of Rights?

• To allow the use of the rack

• To prevent Congress from using cruel punishments

• To promote political extortion

• To increase the power of Congress

What is one of the major debates surrounding the Eighth Amendment today?

• Whether it should allow life imprisonment for minor crimes

• Whether it should encourage unusual punishments

• Whether it should outlaw the death penalty

• Whether it should permit public executions

How does the Eighth Amendment protect citizens?

• By allowing arbitrary arrests

• By preventing excessive punishments

• By promoting tyrannical justice

• By encouraging public trials