<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Eighth Amendment (Amendment VIII) of the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishment . The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause also applies to the states . The phrases in this amendment originated in the English Bill of Rights of 1689 . This amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the United States Bill of Rights . </P> <P> Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted . </P>

The first amendment to the constitution protects citizens against cruel and unusual punishment