Foundation Of Rights
It underpins much of modern American civil rights law, including protections against discrimination by state governments.
In plain English
Citizenship and equal protection for all.
A post–Civil War addition to the Constitution that made former slaves citizens and promised everyone equal treatment under the law.
Simple example
The amendment's Citizenship Clause was the basis for the Supreme Court's 1898 ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which confirmed that children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents are American citizens.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Hard To Change
Amending or reinterpreting it would require either a constitutional amendment or a Supreme Court decision revisiting long-standing precedent.
Citizenship Anchor
Its Citizenship Clause is the legal source of birthright citizenship, making it central to today's immigration debates.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Citizenship Clause
The first sentence declares that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' are citizens of both the nation and their state.
Equal Protection
It bars states from denying any person 'the equal protection of the laws,' a clause used in landmark cases on segregation, voting, and marriage.
Amendment Process
Changing it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures, a deliberately high bar.
Related guide
What is birthright citizenship, and could it be ended?
A look at the constitutional rule that grants citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil — and the debate over whether to change it.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
Should the United States end birthright citizenship?
A long-standing constitutional guarantee has become a renewed flashpoint in the national debate over immigration policy.
Read the brief →You’ve learned the term. Now vote.
Should the United States end birthright citizenship?
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