Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Amendment XIV (the Fourteenth Amendment) of the United States Constitution is one of the post-Civil War amendments and includes the due process and equal protection clauses (Section 1). It was proposed on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868.

Related Topics:
United States Constitution - Civil War - Due process - Equal protection - June 13 - 1866 - July 9 - 1868

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The amendment provides a broad definition of national citizenship, overturning a central holding of the Dred Scott case. It requires the states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons (not merely citizens) within their jurisdictions. At the time of adoption, the main intent was to ensure equal protection regardless of race, including some protection of the right to vote in section 2.

Related Topics:
Dred Scott case - Race

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Supreme Court Justice David Souter called this amendment "the most significant structural provision adopted since the original Framing". (McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky, 2005)

Related Topics:
David Souter - McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky - 2005

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