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Citizenship and Due Process
Section 1 of the 14th Amendment is a constitutional powerhouse. Passed in the aftermath of the Civil War, it was written with the newly freed slaves in mind. But its words have been remarkably consequential for all Americans.
The Due Process Clause ensures fair treatment in the legal system. The Citizenship Clause defines a citizen as anyone born in the United States. The Equal Protection Clause requires governments to treat all citizens equally under the law.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
-- 14th Amendment, section 1, U.S. Constitution, 1868 |