What is the 14th Amendment in Simple Terms?

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, is a landmark amendment addressing citizenship, equal protection, and due process. It declared that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens, and prohibits states from infringing upon citizens' privileges or immunities, depriving them of life, liberty, or property without due process, or denying them equal protection under the law. 

Key Provisions:

• Citizenship:

  The amendment defines citizenship, stating that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens of both the United States and the state where they reside. 

• Privileges and Immunities:

  It restricts states from making or enforcing laws that abridge the privileges and immunities of U.S. citizens. 

• Due Process:

  The amendment prohibits states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. 

• Equal Protection:

  It ensures that all persons within a state's jurisdiction are afforded equal protection under the law, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other characteristics. 

Other Sections:

The 14th Amendment also includes provisions related to the apportionment of representatives in Congress, disqualification from holding office for those who engaged in rebellion against the U.S., and the validity of the public debt. 

In the News:

A divided 9th Circuit panel on July 23, 2025, ruled 2-1 that President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, holding that it violates the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause and affirming a nationwide injunction first issued by a Seattle district judge in a case brought by Democratic-led states. Writing for the majority, Judge Ronald M. Gould—joined by Judge Michael Daly Hawkins—said universal relief was “necessary and appropriate” to protect states from the administrative chaos that would follow if the order took effect while families move across state lines; Judge Patrick J. Bumatay dissented in part.

The decision comes despite a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling last month that curtailed universal injunctions but left room for them in limited circumstances and kept Trump’s policy on hold for at least 30 days, sending related cases back to lower courts; it also sits alongside a separate, newly certified class-action injunction from a federal judge in New Hampshire, making a swift return trip to the Supreme Court likely.

“The president cannot redefine what it means to be American with the stroke of a pen,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said.

Significance:

• The 14th Amendment was a crucial part of the Reconstruction Era amendments following the Civil War, aimed at ensuring equal rights for formerly enslaved people. 

• It has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to apply the Bill of Rights to the states, meaning state governments cannot violate the rights guaranteed in the first ten amendments. 

• The Equal Protection Clause has been the basis for numerous landmark Supreme Court cases addressing issues of discrimination and civil rights. 

• The Due Process Clause has been interpreted to protect a wide range of rights, including privacy rights and rights related to legal proceedings.