Is Our Constitution Truly Guaranteeing Equal Rights to All Citizens?

The founding principles of our republic are clear: we are a nation of laws, and all individuals within the country should be treated equally under the law. However, when we look at the practical implementation and historical context, the reality diverges from this ideal. This article delves into the constitutional guarantees of equal rights and the challenges faced in their enforcement.

Foundational Constitutional Protections

The United States Constitution includes several clauses that establish protections for citizens. The Fourteenth Amendment specifically addresses the issue of citizenship and equal protection, stating that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens and are entitled to equal protection under the law.

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Historical Context and Challenges

Before the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, the responsibility for granting and withholding citizenship lay with the individual states. This led to a period where the rights of African Americans were significantly limited. In many southern states, blacks could be murdered openly without legal repercussions because they were not considered full citizens.

The 14th Amendment was explicitly designed to address the issue of selective citizenship and ensure that all individuals within U.S. jurisdiction were protected equally under the law. One of the key framers of the Fourteenth Amendment, Thaddeus Stevens, emphasized the protective nature of the amendment:

“Disarm a community and you rob them of the means of defending life. Take away their weapons of defense and you take away the inalienable right of defending liberty.” Thaddeus Stevens, 1866.

Interpretation of Equal Protection

The concept of “equal protection” in constitutional law means that while laws inherently treat individuals differently (such as laws prohibiting murder), governmental actions and laws must have a demonstrably rational basis to be considered constitutional. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that laws and governmental actions are justified and do not discriminate unfairly.

For example, a law requiring all trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds to install an expensive “dead-stop” brake would be permissible, whereas a law restricting this requirement to only red-colored trucks would be unconstitutional. This principle gets more complex in terms of legal burden of proof and the presence of invidious discrimination, but the essence is simple: equal rights do not mean absolute equality; they require a rational basis.

Implementation and Challenges

While the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted in 1868, its full practical application did not occur until decades later, with significant progress in legal battles and judicial interpretations. However, even in the modern era, challenges remain in ensuring full equality under the law.

Today, issues such as systemic biases, discriminatory practices, and policy implementations continue to hinder the realization of equal rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. Continued vigilance and advocacy are necessary to address these ongoing challenges.

We must strive to uphold the principles enshrined in our Constitution and ensure that all citizens are treated equally and fairly under the law. By doing so, we can move closer to realizing the ideal of a nation that treats all individuals with the dignity and respect they deserve.