Complete the sentence.
The Eighth Amendment says that the government cannot use any punishments that are ().
A: cruel and unusual
B: embarrassing
C: violent
D: expensive
Today, the United States often uses punishments that are expensive, violent, or embarrassing. However, the Eighth Amendment says that the government cannot use any punishments that are "cruel and unusual." What makes a punishment "cruel or unusual"? The answer is not clear. The Eighth Amendment doesn't talk about specific punishments. Over time, Americans have changed their views on what is cruel and unusual. For example, the government decided in 2005 that it was cruel to put someone to death for a crime he or she committed before the age of 18. Today, Americans continue to question what is cruel and unusual. In the future, some punishments used today may be outlawed. The text of the Eighth Amendment is below. Does it have rules against anything else? Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.