Fourteenth Amendment

3 Credit Hours

Adopted after the U.S. Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the source of many rights. When state laws or practices are claimed to violate Due Process or Equal Protection, often it is a reference to the 14th Amendment. This course will consider the historical background of that Amendment and look briefly at its Citizenship and Privileges or Immunities clauses. Due Process, fundamental rights and interests and Equal Protection are major themes. Consideration will be given to discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, alienage, disability and race.