What is the 8th amendment in simple terms?

The Eighth Amendment, or Amendment VIII of the United States Constitution is the section of the Bill of Rights that states that that punishments must be fair, cannot be cruel, and that fines that are extraordinarily large cannot be set. read more

The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, has three provisions. The cruel and unusual punishments clause restricts the severity of punishments that state and federal governments may impose upon persons who have been convicted of a criminal offense. read more

- Definition, Summary & Cases The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is one of the shortest amendments, but its interpretation has caused many debates. In this lesson, we'll review how the Supreme Court has interpreted its various clauses. read more