What do bills of attainder allow legislatures to do?

Bills of attainder are legislative acts that declare a person or group guilty of a crime and impose punishment without the benefit of a trial. This means that legislatures have the power to inflict penalties, which can include capital punishment, directly through legislation, bypassing the judicial system. The Constitution of the United States prohibits bills of attainder because they undermine the fundamental principle of due process, which ensures that individuals have the right to a fair trial. The prohibition reinforces the separation of powers, ensuring that legislative bodies do not act as both judge and jury in matters of punishment. This concept highlights the importance of balancing governmental powers and protecting individual rights. Hence, the primary focus of bills of attainder is on the ability to impose punishment without a fair trial, making the first choice accurate.