Private, no accountPrivacy details: browsing privately, no account needed
You're browsing privately, no account needed. Your region stays in this session and your precise location is never stored.What we store
Constitution & Rights
PreambleArt. IArt. IIArt. IIIArt. IVArt. VArt. VIArt. VII
Amd. IAmd. IIAmd. IIIAmd. IVAmd. VAmd. VIAmd. VIIAmd. VIIIAmd. IXAmd. XAmd. XIAmd. XIIAmd. XIIIAmd. XIVAmd. XVAmd. XVIAmd. XVIIAmd. XVIIIAmd. XIXAmd. XXAmd. XXIAmd. XXIIAmd. XXIIIAmd. XXIVAmd. XXVAmd. XXVIAmd. XXVII
Amendment VIII

Excessive Bail, Fines, and Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The text
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
In plain language
Editor-written · not AI

The Eighth AmendmentBars excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. Its standards have been read to develop with evolving standards of decency.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) bars excessive bailThe conditions for releasing an accused person before trial, which may include money. The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail but does not guarantee release.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) and fines and “cruel and unusual” punishments. What counts as excessive, or as cruel and unusual, has been defined through court decisions over time.

Connected current activity

Bills and actions tagged to this protection. Tags are applied only when the connection is clearly supportable.

No current actions clearly tagged
When a bill or action clearly connects to this protection, it will appear here.