Which of the following represents an example of a bill of attainder?

A bill of attainder is a legislative act that singles out and punishes a specific individual or group without the benefits of a trial. This concept is primarily a safeguard against legislative action that threatens individual rights and liberties.

In this context, a law declaring that no communists can hold public office directly targets a specific group of individuals based on their political beliefs, effectively banning them from a particular profession without due process or a trial. This is the hallmark of a bill of attainder, as it inflicts a form of punishment without the judicial process.

The other options illustrate different concepts. A law that punishes individuals after a trial involves due process and does not exemplify a bill of attainder since it operates within the judicial framework. A law stating that no one with a felony record can own a business targets individuals based on a legal status but does not represent a punishment formulated without judicial proceedings. Lastly, a law requiring certain citizens to pay additional taxes does not punish a specific individual or group without trial, as taxation policies typically apply broadly rather than singling out individuals for condemnation. Thus, the correct answer effectively encapsulates the definition and characteristics of a bill of attainder.