10
QuizMultiple Choice

Your Rights: Trials and Punishments

Question 10 • Fall 24 American Government/Civics IC

In Furman v. Georgia (1972), the Supreme Court ruled in William Furman’s favor, saying that Georgia had

Answer
A
denied Furman the right to be represented by counsel.
B
violated Furman’s right to a quick and speedy trial.
C
established unclear standards for applying the death penalty.
D
exceeded the annual quota of death penalties it could impose.

Explanation

The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia’s death-penalty system was being applied in an arbitrary and inconsistent way, without clear standards guiding which defendants received the sentence. That made the punishment unconstitutional under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Choice C, “established unclear standards for applying the death penalty,” best describes the ruling.

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