Meaning of bill of attainder | Babel Free

Definitions

A legislative determination imposing punishment without trial.

Examples

“They resolved to copy a Tudor precedent and to proceed against him by bill of attainder. Doubts of law and defects of evidence would thus be cured”

“Coupled with the Constitution's proscription of ex post facto laws is a similar prohibition against bills of attainder.”

“That the tax would take effect after some of the payments were made also raises issues. Says former Attorney General Richard Thornburg, also in an e-mail: "Such legislation could well run afoul of constitutional restrictions on bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, laws impairing the obligations of contract, unauthorized takings of property and the like.”

CEFR level