The first ten amendments are otherwise known as the “Bill of Rights”.  I think these ten amendments are important to society because it limits the governments role and gave individual certain rights that government nor majority could infringe on.  The 8th amendment is, Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.  This means no cruel punishments, excessive fines are conducted for people in jail.  This 8th amendment was broken on the 8th of  November when Supreme Court decided that one of the criminals of the Cheshire home invasion got the death penalty.