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Death penalty — GCSE Religious Studies Definition | GradeGen

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Religious Studies
Key terms
Death penalty

GCSE Religious Studies · key term

Death penalty

Definition

Execution by the state as a punishment for a crime; also called capital punishment.

Used by AQA and Eduqas

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A · 8062

Paper 2

The death penalty, also called capital punishment, is execution by the state as a punishment for a crime. It is not used in the UK, but it remains a punishment in some other countries. The debate concerns whether the state can ever be justified in deliberately taking an offender’s life.
Revise: Contrasting Religious Beliefs on the Death Penalty
The execution of a convicted offender by the state as a legal punishment for a crime; also called capital punishment.
Revise: Death Penalty

Exam tips

1
When evaluating the death penalty, explain contrasting Sikh arguments and assess them. A claim that execution deters crime is not proof that it does.

Related key terms

Deterrence
Reformation
Retribution
Sanctity of life
Principle of utility

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The execution of a convicted criminal as a punishment authorised by the state; also called capital punishment.

Revise: Ethical Arguments on the Death Penalty

AQA Religious Studies A past papers

Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies · C120

Paper 1

Execution by the state as punishment for a crime; also called capital punishment.
The death penalty, or capital punishment, is execution by the state as punishment for a crime. Most Sikhs oppose it because it conflicts with human dignity, compassion and the possibility of reformation. An offender does not cease to have value because they have committed a serious crime.
Revise: Sikh Responses to Crime and Punishment

Eduqas Religious Studies past papers