Amendments
Amendment VIII
Constitution of the United States
Official text
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Proposed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.
In plain English
The government may not demand excessive bail, impose excessive fines, or inflict cruel and unusual punishments. The words come almost directly from the English Bill of Rights of 1689: "excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
Plain-English summary drafted by Christian Vote USA; editor review pending. Always read the official text above.
Bills that cite this section
No published bill analyses cite this section yet.
Learn more
- The Eighth Amendment: Bail, Fines and Punishment (The Bill of Rights)
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