Does the Georgia Constitution prohibit ex post facto laws and bills of attainder?

Does the Georgia Constitution prohibit ex post facto laws and bills of attainder?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Only ex post facto
• D. Only bills of attainder

Answer: (B)

The Georgia Constitution protects people from being punished by retroactive laws or by laws that punish a person without a court trial. It contains explicit prohibitions on both ex post facto laws (laws that apply punishment to actions before the law existed or increase penalties after the fact) and bills of attainder (laws that punish a specific person or group without a trial). Because both protections are present, the correct answer is Yes. This reflects a strong due-process guarantee at the state level, ensuring fairness by requiring trials and limiting retroactive punishment.

The Georgia Constitution protects people from being punished by retroactive laws or by laws that punish a person without a court trial. It contains explicit prohibitions on both ex post facto laws (laws that apply punishment to actions before the law existed or increase penalties after the fact) and bills of attainder (laws that punish a specific person or group without a trial). Because both protections are present, the correct answer is Yes. This reflects a strong due-process guarantee at the state level, ensuring fairness by requiring trials and limiting retroactive punishment.