Question Description
I’m working on a english question and need support to help me learn.
he 14th amendment was ratified in 1868 as part of the Reconstruction amendments. Read the full text of the 14th amendment below.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv
The first section of the amendment defines citizenship and, importantly, says that states cannot “abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens” or “deny to any person . . . the equal protection of the laws.”
Prior to the 14th amendment, it was generally accepted that rights outlined in the Bill of Rights applied to the federal government. There wasn’t really a mechanism for the people to prevent their state government from violating their rights. However, this portion of the 14th amendment has been interpreted to mean that the Bill of Rights applied to state governments as well: state governments also could not infringe on a person’s right to free speech, or right to be protected against unfair search and seizure. This is called the incorporation doctrine.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/incorporation_doctrine
The 14th also defines citizenship as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States.” This is known as the citizenship clause, and it has become somewhat controversial in recent years, particularly as it is applied to a child born in the United States to noncitizen parents.
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/citizenship/fourteenth_amendment_citizenship.php
In thinking about the reasons for this amendment, it can be difficult to determine what the intent was, as well as how the amendment should be applied today.
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Prompt
Write 2-3 sentences (around 50 words) in response to the prompt below.
1) How, in your opinion, should the incorporation clause and the citizenship clause be applied today?
