Which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment?

• A. The First Amendment
• B. The Third Amendment
• C. The Eighth Amendment
• D. The Fifth Amendment

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is the constitutional limit on punishment. The amendment that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment is the Eighth Amendment. It bars punishments that are barbaric or grossly disproportionate to the offense, and it also ties in protections against excessive bail and excessive fines. Courts interpret this clause over time, using evolving standards of decency to apply it to modern penalties.

The other amendments address different rights—free expression and protection of several civil liberties, restrictions on quartering soldiers, due process and protections against self-incrimination and double jeopardy—so they don’t directly set the standard against cruel or unusual punishment.