Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment is one of the most important and consequential additions to the United States Constitution. Ratified in 1868, it defines American citizenship as belonging to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" – i.e., 'birthright citizenship' – and guarantees "equal protection of the laws" and "due process" to all citizens. The amendment was drafted and implemented during the turbulent Reconstruction Era (circa 1863-1877) to protect the newly won liberties of the formerly enslaved. It remains highly relevant in US political discourse and is one of the most frequently litigated parts of the US Constitution.