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The Amendment Of The Fourteenth Amendment

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The Fourteenth Amendment stopped unlawful actions by states. It also gave Congress the power to enforce the amendment through new laws that benefited and were fair to everyone. The Fourteenth Amendment represents part of the extension of the power of the national government over the states. It has been cited in more court cases than any other part of the Constitution. It made it possible for new legislation that has protected the rights of many throughout the United States and has helped uphold equality. Although the language is simple it has caused lots of controversy over its interpretation. Beginning with the Slaughterhouse Cases, the Supreme Court has decided cases involving the Fourteenth Amendment by being selective about how to apply the most minimal rights needed to decide each case, and never really declaring that the Fourteenth Amendment protects all rights recognized by the Constitution. This has led to the adoption of selective incorporation and unremunerated rights. The Slaughterhouse Cases, 83 U.S. 36 (1873), was the Supreme Courts first time attempt to interpret the Fourteenth Amendment in its relation to peoples Constitutional rights. It was important in establishing the privileges and immunities clause. Ratification provided the Supreme Court with a way for protecting economic rights starting with overturning the Dred Scott v. Sanford case, 60 U.S. 393 (1857). The Amendment started out with the idea to make sure that blacks would not be denied their

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