What does the 14th Amendment guarantee?

The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution is significant for its provisions that ensure equal protection under the law for all individuals within its jurisdiction. Ratified in 1868, the amendment addresses issues related to citizenship and the rights of former slaves following the Civil War, but its clauses extend to everyone. It states that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, fundamentally establishing the principle of equality in legal rights.

This means that state laws must apply equally to all people, preventing discrimination by the state based on race, gender, religion, or other characteristics. The equal protection clause has been the foundation for many landmark legal decisions aimed at securing civil rights, influencing cases related to education, marriage, and employment, among others.

The other options pertain to rights and protections provided by different amendments. For instance, protection against unreasonable searches is covered by the Fourth Amendment, freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment, and the right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment. Each of these amendments serves different aspects of individual rights, but it is the 14th Amendment that specifically addresses the equal application of laws among individuals.