What does the 14th amendment guarantee?

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is particularly significant as it addresses issues related to citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law. The phrase "equal protection under the law" is a crucial component of this amendment, establishing that individuals in similar situations must be treated equally by the law. This was particularly aimed at ensuring that former slaves received the same legal protections as other citizens after the Civil War.

The equal protection clause has been the foundation for many landmark Supreme Court cases that sought to eliminate discrimination based on race, gender, and other characteristics. It aims to prevent states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This means that not only does it prohibit discrimination by the state, but it also requires states to provide equal protection to all individuals, thereby promoting fairness and justice in legal proceedings.

In contrast, other options are addressed by different amendments or statutes. For example, the right to vote regardless of gender is primarily covered by the 19th Amendment, while freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment. Protection from discrimination is a broader concept that is tied to various laws and amendments, but the specific language of the 14th Amendment focuses directly on the principle of equal protection. Therefore, the guarantee