Pros And Cons Of The 8th Amendment

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Executive summary unit lll

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights that prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. This amendment was added to the Constitution as a result of the abuses suffered by American colonists under British rule, where the government had the power to impose cruel and unusual punishments.The Eighth Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791, along with nine other amendments known as the Bill of Rights. The amendment was necessary to protect the basic human rights of individuals in the criminal justice system and to prevent the government from imposing excessive and unjust punishments.The …show more content…

Key decisions The Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. It was added to the Constitution in 1791 to protect the basic human rights of individuals in the criminal justice system and prevent government abuse of power. The amendment has been the subject of much debate and controversy, but it remains an important safeguard against government abuse.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights, and it guarantees certain rights to individuals accused of crimes. These rights include the right to a speedy trial, the right to a public trial, the right to an impartial jury, the right to be informed of the …show more content…

The original text of the amendment did not specify a particular size for a jury, but it did state that the accused had the right to a trial "by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed."Over time, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued several decisions related to the size of the jury. In 1898, the Court ruled in Thompson v. Utah that a jury of eight was sufficient in a criminal trial. However, in 1970, the Court ruled in Williams v. Florida that a six-person jury was constitutional.Later, in 1979, the Court upheld the use of six-person juries in state criminal trials in Ballew v. Georgia. However, the Court also noted that larger juries might be necessary in certain cases to ensure a fair trial.Despite the Court's rulings, some critics argue that a six-person jury is not large enough to provide an adequate representation of the community and that it may be more susceptible to biases and errors. However, others argue that smaller juries can be more efficient and can still provide a fair trial with proper safeguards and procedures in place. This is an important part of our lives because it helps ensure that people accused of crimes get a fair trial. Having a jury of a certain size can affect the outcome of a trial.