What is the purpose of the ex post facto clause?

The ex post facto clause is a provision of the United States Constitution that prohibits the federal government from enacting any law that retroactively makes a crime punishable even if the act was not a crime when it was committed. In other words, it prevents the government from punishing someone for something they did before a law was created that made it illegal. In California, the ex post facto clause plays a role in prohibiting unjust laws that might be passed after a crime is committed. For example, if someone breaks the law and then a new law is passed making their crime more harshly punishable, the ex post facto clause would not allow that new law to be applied retroactively. The Constitutional purpose of the ex post facto clause is to protect people from the arbitrary use of government power and to ensure that they are treated fairly. The clause also serves as a protection against legislators who might use the law to punish political enemies or punish people in a biased way. Overall, the ex post facto clause ensures that people in California are treated fairly and that their rights are protected against being taken away after the fact.

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What is the purpose of the ex post facto clause?

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