Amendment 14 · Ratified July 9, 1868
Explore the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, which defines citizenship and grants equal protection under the law.
Source: U.S. Const. amend. 14
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment establishes that anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. is a citizen, which safeguards their rights and guarantees equal protection under the law. This clause plays a critical role in defining national citizenship and incorporating the principles of equality.
The 14th Amendment was adopted in the aftermath of the Civil War during the Reconstruction Era to address issues of former slaves' citizenship and rights. It aimed to ensure that all individuals, regardless of race, would have equal protection under the laws of the United States.
This test evaluates whether an individual is a citizen by virtue of being born on U.S. soil.
This test determines the eligibility of an individual for naturalization based on specific criteria.
Holding: The Supreme Court held that a child born in the U.S. to immigrant parents is a U.S. citizen under the Citizenship Clause.
Significance: This case affirmed the principle of birthright citizenship and clarified the scope of the 14th Amendment.
Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that states cannot deny free public education to undocumented immigrant children.
Significance: This case extended the protections of the 14th Amendment to all persons, regardless of their immigration status.