Bill of attainder (re Schiavo matter)

[DesEtoiles]

bill of attainder

1 : a legislative act formerly permitted that attainted a person and imposed a sentence of death without benefit of a judicial trial —see also ATTAINDER —compare BILL OF PAINS AND PENALTIES in this entry

2 : a legislative act that imposes any punishment on a named or implied individual or group without a trial

NOTE: Bills of attainder are prohibited by Article I of the U.S. Constitution.


bill of pains and penalties

: a legislative act formerly permitted that imposed a punishment less severe than death without benefit of a judicial trial —compare BILL OF ATTAINDER in this entry

NOTE: The term bill of attainder is often used to include bills of pains and penalties. Bills of pains and penalties are included in the constitutional ban on bills of attainder

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