Question

handout: decoding the fourteenth amendment
section 1. 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. no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the united states; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
work with a partner to pull apart the fourteenth amendment to figure out what it means. you can access the internet to help you define terms. pay special attention to defining due process of law and equal protection of the laws.

1. divide the section into four parts. (hint: look at the punctuation, especially periods and semicolons.) try to restate each part in your own words.

part 1: what we think it means:
part 2: what we think it means:
part 3: what we think it means:
part 4: what we think it means:

1. how many times is the word state used in the section? ____ why might this be important?

Explanation:

The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution has key clauses regarding citizenship and state - imposed limitations.

• Part 1: Defines US and state citizenship for those born or naturalized in the US and subject to its jurisdiction.
• Part 2: Prohibits states from making or enforcing laws that abridge US citizens' privileges or immunities.
• Part 3: Forbids states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
• Part 4: Ensures states do not deny equal protection of the laws to any person within their jurisdiction.

The word "State" is used 3 times. It emphasizes the limitations placed on state governments to safeguard individual rights and ensure uniformity in the application of law across states.

Answer:

1.
Part 1: "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."
What we think it means: People who are born in the US or become US - citizens through naturalization and are under US jurisdiction are citizens of the US and the state they live in.

Part 2: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States"
What we think it means: States cannot create or enforce laws that take away the special rights and protections that US citizens have.

Part 3: "nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"
What we think it means: States cannot take away a person's life, freedom, or property unless they follow the proper legal procedures.

Part 4: "nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"
What we think it means: States must give equal legal protection to everyone within their area of control.

1. How many times is the word State used in the section? 3

Why might this be important? It highlights the restrictions on state governments to protect individual rights and ensure legal equality.