Where in the U.S. Constitution does it prohibit from severe punishment depending on social rank?
The Code of Hammurabi was applied differently to different classes of people. If a crime was committed against a noble, the cosequences were more severe. Please list the Amendment and the clause in where this practice is forbidden in the U.S. Constitution.
Answers:
There is no specific clause that forbids punishment based on social rank (i.e. wealth or status). Neither wealth nor status is considered to be a suspect classification under current equal protection analysis (which eliminates the Fourteenth Amendment). While the Eighth Amendment bans cruel and unusual punishment, taking the situation of the victim into account does not in and of itself make the punishment either cruel or unusual.
Having said that, with the exception of certain types of public officials, I know of no law that expressly conditions the punishment on the economic status of the victim. However, judges and jurors are free to consider such facts to some degree in assessing punishment -- though this can work both ways.
I would say the 14th Amendment covers that.
To the point: "nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Equal protection, on my planet, also means you cant play favorites.
This country started on the premise that all people are created equal, but (to paraphrase the pigs in "Animal Farm") it would seem that some are created more equal than others.
It's called the 8th amendment. No cruel and unusual punishment, no excessive bond or fines. It's a one sentence amendment, there is no clause.
Also there's the 14th amendment.
That is still the way it works today in America (unofficially). If a poor black man killed a rich beautiful woman, he would get the death penalty.but if a rich white man killed thousands of poor black children by having his business testing pesticides in their homes, he would get a slap on the wrist, and maybe a lawsuit. (really happened), or if college professors gave thousands of black men syphilis for research, he would never be charged (really happened).
The declaration of independence says that all men are created equal.
The laws that were in place when they founded this country
I would think it should be covered by the equal protection clause (14th amendment). No person shall be denied equal protection of the law. Social status would probably not be seen as a legitimate qualifier to treat people differently (although as far as I know no court has ruled on it).
uh hi Dulce.l It's Dalton :P I agree i bet its the 8th amendment. But dont instanntly think im right. cya @ school.
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