Which amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury in civil cases?

• A. Protection against self-incrimination
• B. Right to a speedy trial
• C. Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
• D. Protection against cruel and unusual punishment

Answer: (C)

The main idea is recognizing which amendment protects the right to have a jury decide civil disputes. The Seventh Amendment does this: in suits at common law where the value in controversy exceeds twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved. This sets civil jury rights apart from criminal rights handled by other amendments. The other choices involve different protections—self-incrimination is a Fifth Amendment safeguard, a speedy trial is a Sixth Amendment right in criminal cases, and cruel and unusual punishment is an Eighth Amendment limitation. So the amendment that explicitly guarantees a jury trial in civil cases is the one named above.