- Citizenship is defined, and all persons born in the US or naturalized are protected.
- States cannot take any action that deprives any person of Life, Liberty, or Property without "due process of law."
- States must provide 'Equal Protection' under the law.
Due Process
- The 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause prevents states from depriving any person of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
- This means that the government must follow certain procedures before it can take away someone's life, liberty, or property.
- For example, the government cannot arrest someone without a warrant, and it cannot hold someone in jail without giving them a fair trial.
Equal Protection
- The 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause states that "No State shall... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
- This means that the government must treat everyone equally under the law, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.
- For example, the government cannot pass laws that discriminate against a particular group of people.