Which amendment defined citizenship and equal protection under the law?

Which amendment defined citizenship and equal protection under the law?

• A. 15th Amendment.
• B. 19th Amendment.
• C. 14th Amendment.
• D. 13th Amendment.

Answer: (C)

The Fourteenth Amendment defines who counts as a citizen and guarantees equal protection under the law. Its Citizenship Clause declares that all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens, which settled who could claim national membership after slavery. The Equal Protection Clause requires states to treat people equally, preventing laws or policies that discriminate without a justifiable reason. This amendment also lays the groundwork for civil rights advances by protecting individuals from unequal state action and by supporting the incorporation of other rights against state governments. The other amendments deal with freeing enslaved people and expanding voting rights, but they do not establish citizenship status or the broad equal-protection guarantee.

The Fourteenth Amendment defines who counts as a citizen and guarantees equal protection under the law. Its Citizenship Clause declares that all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens, which settled who could claim national membership after slavery. The Equal Protection Clause requires states to treat people equally, preventing laws or policies that discriminate without a justifiable reason. This amendment also lays the groundwork for civil rights advances by protecting individuals from unequal state action and by supporting the incorporation of other rights against state governments. The other amendments deal with freeing enslaved people and expanding voting rights, but they do not establish citizenship status or the broad equal-protection guarantee.