The Eighth Amendment Of the United States Constitution

The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

The Eighth Amendment has its roots in the U.S. Constitution as one of the original ones. It has its seat in the top ten Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights.

Like other amendments in the Bill of Rights, the eighth amendment finds its roots within the Magna Carta, written in 1215, detailed in section 20:

A freeman shall not be amerced for a slight offense, except in accordance with the degree of the offense; and for a grave offense he shall be amerced in accordance with the gravity of the offense, yet saving always his "contentment"; and a merchant in the same way, saving his "merchandise"; and a villein shall be amerced in the same way, saving his "wainage" if they have fallen into our mercy: and none of the aforesaid amercements shall be imposed except by the oath of honest men of the neighborhood.

Effect On the United States

The eighth Amendment, as directly state, does not permit the practice of cruel and unusual punishment. It forces the judicial system to standardize procedures and punishments that can be confirmed, and that do not violate this Amendment.

Effect On Me

The Eighth Amendment protects my dignity, that if I were to commit a crime, repentance through punishment is enough. The Amendment prevents those who have passed the line of mere judgement, to the line of revenge and rage, to inflict worse punishments. It's what prevents someone from making me do dangerous work, for a mere accident. Of course, what defines "cruel and unusual" punishment can be defined, however it now makes it legal for me to challenge it in court, to stand up for myself, saying enough is enough. It is one thing to repent from justice, but another to suffer it blind.

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