What does the 8th Amendment prohibit?

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. This means that the government cannot impose penalties that are disproportionate to the offenses committed or that are deemed inhumane or degrading. For example, the use of torture as a punishment or extremely high fines that could be considered punitive beyond reason are not permissible under this amendment.

The other options listed pertain to different rights and protections provided by the Constitution. Searches without warrants relate to the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The right to a public trial is covered under the Sixth Amendment, ensuring that trials are conducted openly and transparently. Trials without a jury are addressed in the Sixth Amendment as well, as they guarantee the right to a trial by an impartial jury.

By recognizing that the Eighth Amendment focuses on the nature of punishments and the imposition of fines, the identification of excessive fines and cruel punishments as its core prohibitions is accurate.