Madison v. Alabama
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Madison v. Alabama and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Madison v. Alabama.
In Madison v. Alabama, the Supreme Court addressed whether the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause applies to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court found that the Clause is indeed incorporated, emphasizing its historical significance and its role in protecting other liberties. The decision highlights the importance of the Excessive Fines Clause in preventing punitive measures that could undermine individual rights.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Madison v. Alabama.
The Court held that the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is an incorporated protection applicable to the States under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Madison v. Alabama. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
-
Why Excessive Fines is relevant to Madison v. Alabama
The case directly addresses whether the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is an incorporated protection applicable to the States under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
-
Why Substantive Due Process is relevant to Madison v. Alabama
The incorporation of the Excessive Fines Clause through the Fourteenth Amendment involves substantive due process analysis.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause incorporates and renders applicable to the States Bill of Rights protections 'fundamental to our scheme of ordered liberty,' or 'deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition.'
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Madison v. Alabama that support the summary and concepts above.
The Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is an incorporated protection applicable to the States under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
Protection against excessive fines has been a constant shield throughout Anglo-American history for good reason.
The historical and logical case for concluding that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Excessive Fines Clause is indeed overwhelming.
