Which amendment is focused on civil liberties and processes of citizenship?

The 14th Amendment is pivotal in addressing civil liberties and the processes of citizenship in the United States. Ratified in 1868, it provides a broad definition of national citizenship, ensuring that all individuals born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens. This amendment contains several critical clauses, including the Due Process Clause, which guarantees that no state can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Additionally, the Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, thereby safeguarding individual rights and promoting civil rights.

This amendment fundamentally transformed the relationship between the states and their citizens, allowing for greater federal protection of civil rights and liberties against state infringement. Its provisions have been the basis for numerous landmark Supreme Court decisions that have shaped civil rights law in America.

In contrast, the other amendments mentioned focus on different aspects of governance or civil rights. The 10th Amendment emphasizes the powers reserved to the states, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, and the 15th Amendment prohibits denying the right to vote based on race. While all these amendments are significant in their own contexts, the 14th Amendment specifically concentrates on defining citizenship and