attainder
1
9.9
- noun
- /əˈteɪndər/
- Archaic
:
pérdida de derechos civiles
- In history classes, we learned about the concept of attainder, which refers to losing one's civil rights after a sentence of death.
- bill of attainder
- unconstitutional bill of attainder
- attainder challenge
Examples
-
The bill passed against Phillips imposed the consequences of attainder under Virginia law—death and forfeiture.
Academic text (2004) -
The United States Constitution expressly prohibits the federal government from enacting bills of attainder through the Bill of Attainder Clause (Clause).
Academic text (2000) -
However, a law does not have to name specific individuals to be a bill of attainder.
Academic text (2000) -
Unless both elements are found, a law is not an unconstitutional bill of attainder.
Academic text (2000) -
He is actually condemned to death by an act of attainder.
-
The Court has relied upon the prohibition against bills of attainder only five times to strike down legislation.
Academic text (2000) -
For example, a law that punishes particularly named individuals is a bill of attainder and a violation of the Clause.
Academic text (2000) -
There, the Court was unwilling to find a bill of attainder even where legislation singled out former President Nixon by name.
Academic text (2000) -
The original Constitution prohibited both the federal Congress and state legislatures from enacting bills of attainder.
Academic text (2004) -
A law will be an unconstitutional bill of attainder if it imposes a punishment traditionally prohibited by the Clause.
Academic text (2000)
Synonyms
1
9.8
A situation that prevents people from voting
A state in which a person loses most legal rights such as voting and owning property
Compounds
- Formal
1
9.9
A law that declares a person guilty and punishes them without a trial
Surface Forms
Etymology
Attainder comes from old words meaning 'to touch' (Latin ad- + tangere) that later took on the idea of a 'stain' or 'guilt'. So being under attainder was like being 'touched' by guilt and losing your rights and property.