Read the excerpt from the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
"That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
What idea did this part of the Declaration add to the American political system?
A.
The amount of bail or fines has no limits.
B.
Power in government comes from the people.
C.
Magistrates have the power to decide punishment.
D.
The government may not inflict cruel punishment.
D. The government may not inflict cruel punishment.
The idea that is added to the American political system by this part of the Virginia Declaration of Rights is that the government may not inflict cruel and unusual punishments (Option D).
To arrive at this answer, one needs to understand the content of the excerpt and analyze its implications. The excerpt states that excessive bail should not be required, excessive fines should not be imposed, and cruel and unusual punishments should not be inflicted. By including this in the declaration, it signifies that the founders of the Virginia Declaration of Rights believed that the government should be prohibited from subjecting individuals to cruel and unusual punishments. This idea of limiting the power of the government is consistent with the principles of individual rights and protections. Furthermore, this concept has been incorporated into the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects individuals from cruel and unusual punishments.