The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on July 9, 1868, is one of the Reconstruction Amendments passed after the Civil War. It primarily addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. Key provisions include:
- Citizenship Clause: It grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people, making them citizens of both the United States and the state where they reside
- Privileges or Immunities Clause: No state can make or enforce laws that abridge the privileges or immunities of U.S. citizens
- Due Process Clause: States cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law
- Equal Protection Clause: States must provide equal protection of the laws to all persons within their jurisdiction
- Representation: Apportionment of representatives in Congress is based on the whole population, but states that deny the right to vote to male citizens over 21 (except for rebellion or crime) will have their representation reduced proportionally
- Disqualification from Office: Persons who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S. after taking an oath to support the Constitution are barred from holding federal or state office unless Congress removes this disability by a two-thirds vote
- Public Debt: The amendment affirms the validity of the public debt incurred by the United States but invalidates debts incurred by the Confederacy or claims for emancipation of slaves
- Congressional Enforcement: Congress has the power to enforce the amendment through appropriate legislation, which has led to significant civil rights laws
The 14th Amendment has been foundational in landmark Supreme Court decisions related to civil rights, equal protection, and due process, shaping American constitutional law profoundly
. In summary, the 14th Amendment ensures citizenship to all born or naturalized in the U.S., guarantees equal protection and due process under the law, and sets rules for political representation and government debt related to the Civil War
