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A '''bill of attainder''' is a [[legislative]] act that harms the life or property of specifically identified persons or groups. It declares a specific person or group of persons (e.g., someone's children) to be guilty of a crime without a trial.  

A '''bill of attainder''' is a [[legislative]] act that harms the life or property of specifically identified persons or groups. It declares a specific person or group of persons (e.g., someone's children) to be guilty of a crime without a trial.<ref name="thefreedictionary.com">http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Bill+of+attainder</ref>

In the [[common law]] of [[England]] before the [[American Revolution]], bills of attainder condemned specific persons to death.  The [[Framers]] of the [[Constitution]] wanted to end that, and prohibited both the federal government ([[Full Text of the United States Constitution#Section. 9.|Article I, Section 9, Clause 3]]) and the states ([[Full Text of the United States Constitution#Section. 10.|Article I, Section 10, Clause 1]]) from passing bills of attainder under the doctrine of [[separation of powers]].  The Founders felt so strongly about this that bills of attainder and [[ex post facto]] laws are the only laws that the original [[Constitution]] prohibits both the federal government and states from ever passing.

In the [[common law]] of [[England]] before the [[American Revolution]], bills of attainder condemned specific persons to death.  The [[Framers]] of the [[Constitution]] wanted to end that, and prohibited both the federal government ([[Full Text of the United States Constitution#Section. 9.|Article I, Section 9, Clause 3]]) and the states ([[Full Text of the United States Constitution#Section. 10.|Article I, Section 10, Clause 1]]) from passing bills of attainder under the doctrine of [[separation of powers]].<ref name="thefreedictionary.com">http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Bill+of+attainder</ref> The Founders felt so strongly about this that bills of attainder and [[ex post facto]] laws are the only laws that the original [[Constitution]] prohibits both the federal government and states from ever passing.

Chief Justice [[John Marshall]] expanded the prohibition against bills of attainder beyond protection of life to protection of property also in ''[[Fletcher v. Peck]]'' (1810).  However, the [[Supreme Court]] has not invalidated any bills of attainder since 1965.  The Court will invalidate such law only if the legislation identifies the affected persons and punishes them without a judicial trial.

Chief Justice [[John Marshall]] expanded the prohibition against bills of attainder beyond protection of life to protection of property also in ''[[Fletcher v. Peck]]'' (1810).  However, the [[Supreme Court]] has not invalidated any bills of attainder since 1965.  The Court will invalidate such law only if the legislation identifies the affected persons and punishes them without a judicial trial.