For approximately 120 years after the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the Supreme Court employed a fixed or historical meaning for the concept of "cruel and unusual punishment."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Prior to the 1950s and 1960s, the Supreme Court used a fixed or historical interpretation of "cruel and unusual punishment" as it appears in the Eighth Amendment. However, since then, the Court has also considered evolving standards of decency in society when determining what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

For Approximately 120 Years After the Adoption of the Bill