Which Amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment for minor offenses?

The Eighth Amendment is the correct answer because it explicitly prohibits the use of cruel and unusual punishments in the United States. This protection ensures that individuals, even those convicted of minor offenses, are not subjected to excessively harsh penalties that could be deemed inhumane or disproportionate to the crime committed. The principle underlying this amendment is to uphold human dignity and to promote a fair justice system that does not inflict undue suffering upon individuals.

The other amendments listed do not address the issue of punishments. The Fourth Amendment relates to the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Sixth Amendment ensures the right to a fair trial, including the right to counsel and the right to confront witnesses. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people, which does not pertain to issues of punishment. Thus, the Eighth Amendment's focus on the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment makes it the relevant amendment for this question.