Which amendment is best known for requiring due process and equal protection under the law?

Which amendment is best known for requiring due process and equal protection under the law?

• A. The 1st Amendment
• B. The 14th Amendment
• C. The 16th Amendment
• D. The 18th Amendment

Answer: (B)

The important idea here is that the 14th Amendment guarantees due process and equal protection under the law. Its Due Process Clause protects you from unfair procedures by the state when it deprives you of life, liberty, or property, while its Equal Protection Clause requires that laws be applied fairly and not discriminate without a legitimate reason. Over time, the 14th Amendment has also been used to extend many protections in the Bill of Rights to state governments through incorporation, strengthening civil rights across the whole country. In contrast, the First Amendment covers freedoms like speech and religion, but not the specific guarantee of fair procedures and equal protection at the state level; the 16th and 18th Amendments deal with income tax and Prohibition, respectively, and do not center on due process or equal protection.