Which amendment prohibits states from denying due process and equal protection to any person within their jurisdiction?

• A. 13th Amendment
• B. 14th Amendment
• C. 15th Amendment
• D. 17th Amendment

Answer: (B)

This amendment sets the standard that state governments cannot treat people unfairly or remove their basic rights without a fair process. The due process clause stops states from depriving someone of life, liberty, or property without following lawful procedure. The equal protection clause requires states to treat people in similar situations equally under the law. Together, they constrain how states act within their borders and protect individuals from discriminatory or arbitrary treatment. This protection is specific to the states, whereas the federal government is covered more directly by the 5th Amendment. The other amendments listed address different issues—slavery abolition, voting rights, and how senators are elected—so they don’t address the state-level requirements for due process and equal protection.