Seven & EightSeven & Eight

Amendment VIIAmendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be

preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according examined in any Court of the United States, than according

to the rules of the common law.to the rules of the common law.

““””

In suits at common law, where the amount of money goes over 20 dollars, the person has the right to a jury and everything learned

in the case cannot be brought into another case meaning once the case is over, it’s over.

A new case can only start if there is new evidence.

Why It Was IncludedWhy It Was Included

This amendment was added to the Constitution This amendment was added to the Constitution so that way everything is fair and that the so that way everything is fair and that the

person that was accused of doing something person that was accused of doing something has their chance to defend themselves. If has their chance to defend themselves. If

people are thrown in jail without a trial and they people are thrown in jail without a trial and they are found out to be innocent a while later, then are found out to be innocent a while later, then the people that are accused of something that the people that are accused of something that they didn’t do can file a suit against the court they didn’t do can file a suit against the court

system or the DA’s office.system or the DA’s office.

Changes MadeChanges Made

• Now: 1500 dollars or more will be tried with a Now: 1500 dollars or more will be tried with a jury jury

• 1500 dollars or less- without a jury1500 dollars or less- without a jury

• Case cannot be retried without new Case cannot be retried without new evidenceevidence

• US forbids anyone from setting up their own US forbids anyone from setting up their own court system. Example: Joe the Plumber’s court system. Example: Joe the Plumber’s Court. Court.

What It MeansWhat It Means

• This amendment preserves the right of the This amendment preserves the right of the accused to have a fair trial with a juryaccused to have a fair trial with a jury

• Applies to civil cases (two private parties, one Applies to civil cases (two private parties, one bringing a case against the other)bringing a case against the other)

• It’s important because juries provide a It’s important because juries provide a diversity of opinions in a trial. There’s more diversity of opinions in a trial. There’s more than just a judge to decide your verdict.than just a judge to decide your verdict.

Amendment VIIIAmendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.““ ””

No one can be charged more money than what is appropriate for the crime they are accused of. Cruel and

unusal punishment (treating prisoners unfairly) is prohibited.

Severity of crime = amount of bail/finesBail is the amount of money you have to pay in order to

leave jail until your trial.

Why It Was IncludedWhy It Was Included

This amendment was added to the Constitution This amendment was added to the Constitution because it shows that even though people may because it shows that even though people may or may not have done something wrong, they or may not have done something wrong, they still have their rights and they can’t be treated still have their rights and they can’t be treated

unfairly. Large fines or a large bail are unfairly. Large fines or a large bail are inappropriate for a minor crime.inappropriate for a minor crime.

Changes MadeChanges Made

• Death penalty (today):Death penalty (today):• Lethal injectionLethal injection• Firing squadFiring squad• HangingHanging• Electric chairElectric chair

• Death penalty (back then):

•Being pulled into pieces by horses

•Strangled

•Burned

•Branded

•Disemboweled

•Chained down and being a human target

What It MeansWhat It Means

• It’s important to have this right so that you aren’t It’s important to have this right so that you aren’t forced to pay more than usual for bail or fines, and forced to pay more than usual for bail or fines, and no inappropriate punishments are inflicted whilst no inappropriate punishments are inflicted whilst you are in prison.you are in prison.

• The death penalty is a controversial issue because The death penalty is a controversial issue because some people argue that it violates the rights some people argue that it violates the rights expressed in this amendment.expressed in this amendment.

• States with : states without :: 36 : 14States with : states without :: 36 : 14

• Louisiana is one of the states with the death Louisiana is one of the states with the death penalty.penalty.• Minimum age to receive death sentence: sixteenMinimum age to receive death sentence: sixteen• Death by lethal injectionDeath by lethal injection• Murder, rape, treasonMurder, rape, treason

Works CitedWorks Cited

• The Death Penalty Information Center. “The Death Penalty Information Center. “The Death Penalty.”The Death Penalty.” The Death The Death Penalty Penalty Information Center. 12 January 2009. Information Center. 12 January 2009. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org. accessed http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org. accessed January 10 2009.January 10 2009.

• Houghton, Bob. Houghton, Bob. Amendment 7.Amendment 7.http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/index.htm. http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/index.htm.

12 January, 12 January, 2009.2009.<http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/media/<http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/media/

seven.htm>seven.htm>

• Houghton, Bob. Houghton, Bob. Amendment 8. Amendment 8. http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/index.htm. http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/index.htm.

12 January 2009. 12 January 2009.http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/media/eight.htm.http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/bill_of_rights/media/eight.htm.

• Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia Contributors. “The Seventh Amendment”“The Seventh Amendment”. Wikipedia. 10 . Wikipedia. 10 January 2009. January 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Amendment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Amendment Accessed 10 January 2009.Accessed 10 January 2009.

• Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia Contributors. “The Eighth Amendment”. “The Eighth Amendment”. Wikipedia. 10 Wikipedia. 10 January 2009. January 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment Accessed 10 January 2009.Accessed 10 January 2009.