What is the 14th Amendment in full?

14th amendment in full: verbatim text and official sources

Amendment XIV. 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.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

The verbatim text above is part of the public record and is published in authoritative government sources for exact citation and reference as noted below.

For an authoritative online reproduction of the Amendment, consult the National Archives entry for the Fourteenth Amendment which provides the historical document text and context National Archives Fourteenth Amendment. You can also see a related National Archives milestone entry National Archives milestone, 14th Amendment and our guide on exact words and citation where to read and cite.

The Constitution Annotated on Congress.gov offers a clause-by-clause presentation and legal annotation that reporters and researchers commonly use for citation and explanation Constitution Annotated, Amendment XIV.

14th amendment in full: quick guide to Section 1

Section 1 contains four core provisions in a single short paragraph: citizenship, privileges or immunities, due process, and equal protection. Constitution Annotated explains these clauses and their modern significance for litigation and scholarship Constitution Annotated, Amendment XIV.

Section 1 contains four core provisions in a single short paragraph: citizenship, privileges or immunities, due process, and equal protection. Constitution Annotated explains these clauses and their modern significance for litigation and scholarship Constitution Annotated, Amendment XIV.

The citizenship clause establishes that people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of both the United States and the state where they live. This clause is the starting point for questions about national and state citizenship and is reproduced above from the official text.

The Privileges or Immunities Clause appears immediately after the citizenship sentence and limits state power to abridge certain rights of citizens. For contemporary readers, legal commentary treats this clause as distinct but less frequently relied on in modern doctrine than the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses LII, Fourteenth Amendment overview.

The Due Process Clause forbids a State from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Courts interpret this clause both procedurally and substantively, and constitutional commentary tracks how courts describe each usage LII, Due Process summary and amendment xiv entry.

What the 14th amendment in full has meant historically

The Amendment was adopted in the Reconstruction era after the Civil War and addressed citizenship and civil rights in the postwar United States. The National Archives provides the historical framing for the Amendment as a Reconstruction measure that altered the Constitution’s protections for individuals within state jurisdictions National Archives Fourteenth Amendment.

Early judicial interpretations set paths for later doctrine. One early and long-standing precedent that endorsed state-segregation policies was Plessy v. Ferguson, and later the Court reexamined that framework in Brown v. Board of Education, which is widely cited in histories of the Equal Protection Clause Plessy v. Ferguson, Oyez.

Brown v. Board of Education rejected the separate but equal doctrine and marked a turning point where courts applied the Equal Protection Clause to public education and segregation, illustrating how Section 1 text was used in landmark civil rights litigation Brown v. Board of Education, Oyez.

Over time, Section 1 became the primary vehicle for litigation about equality and certain personal liberties against state action. For readers seeking primary documents and background, the Constitution Annotated is a practical starting point for tracing that legal history Constitution Annotated, Amendment XIV.

Key Supreme Court cases interpreting the Amendment

Several Supreme Court decisions illustrate how courts have used Section 1 to address state laws on segregation, citizenship, and liberties; Brown v. Board is the classic example that rejected Plessy s separate but equal approach and relied on the Equal Protection Clause to order desegregation Brown v. Board of Education, Oyez.

Other cases have shaped how courts read the Due Process Clause to protect procedural rights and, in some circumstances, substantive liberties. Legal trackers and annotations collect these opinions and show how doctrines evolve over time Constitution Annotated, case notes.

Do not assume any single decision settles all open questions. Scholars continue to debate boundaries of doctrinal tests, and new cases can change emphasis or application. For close research, pair the Amendment text with primary opinions and authoritative annotations.

How the Due Process Clause in the 14th amendment in full is used today

The Due Process Clause is understood in two complementary ways. Procedural due process requires fair procedures before the state deprives someone of life, liberty, or property. This use focuses on notice and an opportunity to be heard and is central to routine litigation about government decision-making LII, Due Process summary.

Substantive due process refers to the doctrine where courts recognize certain rights as fundamental and protect them from state interference even if procedures are followed. Scholars and courts debate which rights qualify and how the courts should assess them LII, substantive due process discussion.

A recent Supreme Court decision that affected the modern contours of substantive due process is Dobbs v. Jackson Women s Health Organization, which prompted renewed analysis of how courts locate constitutional protection for certain personal liberties Dobbs case files and analysis, SCOTUSblog.

Because doctrinal boundaries can change with new decisions, reliable annotation sources are essential for tracking the current state of the law and understanding how the text of Section 1 is applied.

The Equal Protection Clause: plain language and implications

The Equal Protection Clause says a state may not deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. In basic terms, it prevents states from enacting laws that treat similarly situated people differently without adequate justification Constitution Annotated, Equal Protection notes.

Court approaches vary depending on the nature of the claim. For some classifications, courts apply strict scrutiny and require a compelling state interest; for others they apply intermediate or rational-basis review. Annotated sources describe these tests and their typical applications in civil rights cases LII, Equal Protection overview.

Brown v. Board is a central example of the Clause s use in civil rights litigation, where the Court concluded that state-imposed segregation in public education violated equal protection principles. That decision remains a key reference for the Clause s historical impact Brown v. Board of Education, Oyez.

Application of equal protection principles depends on context, and the tests courts use are described in annotated case notes and law reviews cited in the Constitution Annotated and similar resources.

Sections 2 through 4 of the 14th amendment in full: apportionment, insurrection, and enforcement

Sections 2 through 4 address apportionment of Representatives, disqualification from office for insurrection or rebellion, and the validity of the public debt and related enforcement. These sections are part of the published Amendment text and are reproduced above in full from authoritative sources.

Section 2 links representation to voting rights as described in the historical text of the Amendment and has been referenced in apportionment and voting-rights debates, though it appears less frequently in case law than Section 1. For the full text and notes, see the Constitution Annotated Constitution Annotated, Amendment XIV. For related background on constitutional rights in context, see our hub on constitutional rights.

Section 3 disqualifies persons who engaged in insurrection from holding federal or state office unless Congress removes the disability by a two-thirds vote. This provision has been discussed in congressional and statutory contexts where questions about qualification for office arise National Archives Fourteenth Amendment.

Section 4 affirms the validity of the public debt while declaring debts incurred in support of insurrection void. Section 5 gives Congress power to enforce the Amendment by appropriate legislation, a critical clause for statutory enforcement and congressional action Constitution Annotated, Enforcement clause.

How to read and cite the 14th amendment in full for research or reporting

Best practice is to reproduce the Amendment s verbatim text from an authoritative government source and pair it with an annotation or primary opinion for context. The National Archives and Constitution Annotated are the recommended primary sources for exact text and clause-level commentary National Archives Fourteenth Amendment. For an internal quick reference on the 14th Amendment text, see our page US Constitution 14th Amendment text.

Example citation: “U.S. Const. amend. XIV” with a parenthetical or inline link to the Constitution Annotated entry when explaining legal meaning. For verbatim quotation, note the public domain status of the text and cite the government source used.

Checklist for reporters and students: 1) Quote the verbatim text from National Archives or Constitution Annotated, 2) Link the clause to annotated entries or primary Supreme Court opinions for interpretive claims, 3) Attribute doctrinal summaries to named sources rather than presenting them as undisputed facts Constitution Annotated citation advice.

Common reader questions and pitfalls about the 14th amendment in full

A common mistake is quoting clauses out of their textual and historical context. The Amendment s short clauses are often cited in isolation, which can lead to mistaken conclusions about their scope. Consult annotated entries to understand clause relationships and judicial interpretation Constitution Annotated, contextual notes.

Another pitfall is confusing the constitutional text with judicial interpretation. The text sets the baseline; courts and scholars interpret how the text applies to specific disputes. Rely on primary opinions and the Constitution Annotated for authoritative descriptions of how courts read the Amendment LII, interpretive guidance.

Readers should also avoid treating slogans or political summaries as legal statements. When reporting, attribute policy claims or political positions to named sources such as campaign materials or legislative texts.

Practical examples: how courts have applied the Amendment in different contexts

Education and segregation: Brown v. Board of Education used the Equal Protection Clause to find state-sponsored public school segregation unconstitutional, demonstrating how Section 1 operated in civil rights enforcement Brown v. Board of Education, Oyez.

Privacy and substantive due process: courts have at times treated certain personal decisions as within the scope of liberty protected by the Due Process Clause. The doctrine and its limits are discussed in annotated case notes and legal commentary LII, Due Process commentary.

These examples illustrate how courts use Section 1 clauses in particular contexts rather than serving as an exhaustive list of holdings. For precise legal positions consult the primary opinions and annotated entries cited here.

How historians and legal scholars track changes to 14th amendment in full interpretation

Scholars use annotated resources, case trackers, and law reviews to record doctrinal shifts over time. The Constitution Annotated and LII offer structured entries that summarize decisions and note evolving interpretations Constitution Annotated, research tools.

Major Supreme Court decisions can shift emphasis in doctrine and prompt re-evaluation of prior holdings. Dobbs is one recent example scholars analyze when discussing substantive due process changes and the Amendment s modern contours Dobbs case files and analysis, SCOTUSblog.

For ongoing research, pairing the Amendment s text with primary opinions and annotations is the most reliable method to follow doctrinal changes.

Quick reference: where to read the 14th amendment in full online

National Archives: provides the Amendment text and historical context for the document itself and is suitable for verbatim quotation National Archives Fourteenth Amendment.

Constitution Annotated: offers clause-level annotation, links to decisions, and scholarly notes useful for reporting and analysis Constitution Annotated, Amendment XIV.

LII (Legal Information Institute) offers accessible summaries and clause discussions that help readers understand technical terms and doctrinal distinctions LII, Fourteenth Amendment.

SCOTUSblog provides case files and analysis for major recent decisions and is useful for tracking high-profile doctrinal developments SCOTUSblog case files.

Concluding summary: what the 14th amendment in full means for readers

Takeaway 1: The full text of the Amendment is publicly available and may be quoted verbatim from government sources such as the National Archives and the Constitution Annotated National Archives Fourteenth Amendment.

Takeaway 2: Section 1 is the central part of modern litigation because it contains citizenship, privileges or immunities, due process, and equal protection provisions that courts apply in many contexts Constitution Annotated, Section 1 notes.

Takeaway 3: For reporting and research, pair the verbatim text with annotated entries and primary opinions to avoid conflating text with interpretation and to track doctrinal change over time.

Appendix: short glossary of terms used when reading the 14th amendment in full

Substantive due process: a judicial doctrine where courts protect certain fundamental rights from state interference beyond procedural safeguards, described in annotated legal commentary LII, substantive due process.

Procedural due process: the requirement that the government follow fair procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty, or property, as summarized in clause discussions Constitution Annotated, Due Process.

Privileges or Immunities Clause: a short clause in Section 1 that limits state actions against certain citizen rights; its modern application is treated in historical and annotated sources Constitution Annotated, Privileges or Immunities.

Equal Protection Clause: the provision that states must afford equal protection of the laws to persons within their jurisdiction; core cases and tests are detailed in annotated entries Constitution Annotated, Equal Protection.