Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution is a living document that has been amended over time to expand the protections it offers to all people. The Equal Protection Clause requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. This has been used to combat racial discrimination, inequality and segregation. The 15th Amendment, for example, prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote on the basis of race, colour or previous condition of servitude. The 19th Amendment, meanwhile, broadened the scope of American democracy by enfranchising women.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Equal protection under the law | The Equal Protection Clause requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. |
| Right to vote | The 15th Amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." |
| Right to equal participation in governance | The 19th Amendment broadened the scope of American democracy, reinforcing the principle that all citizens are entitled to equal participation in the governance of their country. |
| Right to citizenship | The Fourteenth Amendment made clear that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and the States where they reside. |
| Right to privileges and immunities | The "privileges and immunities clause" provides that "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens of several states." |
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What You'll Learn
The Equal Protection Clause
The main protections of individual liberties come not from the Constitution itself, but from the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments reflect the commitment of the American people to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring that all citizens enjoy fundamental rights and liberties.
The passage of the 19th Amendment, which enfranchised women, is another example of the expansion of constitutional protections. This amendment broadened the scope of American democracy, reinforcing the principle that all citizens are entitled to equal participation in the governance of their country.
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The 15th Amendment
The US Constitution does mention protections for all people. The Equal Protection Clause requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. This clause has been used to combat racial discrimination, inequality and segregation. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote "on account of race, colour, or previous condition of servitude". This amendment was designed to ensure that African American men could participate fully in the democratic process.
The Fourteenth Amendment also contains important provisions. Section one of the Fourteenth Amendment makes clear that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and the States in which they reside.
The main protections of individual liberties come not in the Constitution itself, but the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. The "privileges and immunities clause" contained in Article IV, Section 2, provides, "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens of several states." This limits the ability of states to favour their own citizens and discriminate against out-of-state citizens with respect to certain fundamental rights.
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The 'privileges and immunities clause'
The US Constitution does mention protections for all people. The Equal Protection Clause requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. This clause has been used to combat racial discrimination, inequality and segregation.
The Fourteenth Amendment also contains important provisions. Section one of the Fourteenth Amendment makes clear that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and the States where they reside.
The main protections of individual liberties come not in the Constitution itself, but the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments reflect the commitment of the American people to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring that all citizens enjoy the fundamental rights and liberties that define the nation. The 19th Amendment, for example, broadened the scope of American democracy by enfranchising women and reinforcing the principle that all citizens are entitled to equal participation in the governance of their country.
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The 19th Amendment
The US Constitution does mention protections for all people. The Equal Protection Clause requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. This clause has been used to combat racial discrimination, inequality and segregation. The 14th Amendment also makes clear that all persons born or naturalised in the US are citizens of the US and the States where they reside.
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The Fourteenth Amendment
The US Constitution protects the rights of its citizens in a number of ways. The Equal Protection Clause requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. This clause has been used to combat racial discrimination, inequality and segregation. The 'privileges and immunities clause' contained in Article IV, Section 2, provides that 'The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens of several states'. This limits the ability of states to favour their own citizens and discriminate against out-of-state citizens with respect to certain fundamental rights.
The main protections of individual liberties come not in the Constitution itself, but the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. The passage of the 19th Amendment, for example, followed decades of tireless advocacy by suffragists who highlighted the inconsistency in a democratic society that excluded half its population from the electoral process. By enfranchising women, the 19th Amendment broadened the scope of American democracy, reinforcing the principle that all citizens are entitled to equal participation in the governance of their country. These amendments collectively signify an expansion of constitutional protections, ensuring that the promise of liberty and justice extends to previously excluded groups.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Equal Protection Clause requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction. This has been interpreted to protect a broad array of rights, ensuring that no group is unjustly targeted or marginalised by state laws.
The 'privileges and immunities clause' in Article IV, Section 2, provides that "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens of several states". This limits the ability of states to favour their own citizens and discriminate against out-of-state citizens with respect to certain fundamental rights.
The 19th Amendment, which was passed after decades of tireless advocacy by suffragists, broadened the scope of American democracy by enfranchising women. This reinforced the principle that all citizens are entitled to equal participation in the governance of their country.
The Fourteenth Amendment makes clear that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and the States in which they reside.
