California POST Training Practice Test

Which of the following is a provision of the Fourteenth Amendment?

1. No state may deny due process of law

2. No state may prohibit free speech

3. No state may impose taxes on residents

4. No state may restrict voting

The correct answer is: No state may deny due process of law

The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, is a significant part of the United States Constitution that primarily addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. One of its essential provisions is the clause that states no state may deny any person the equal protection of the laws and the due process of law. This means that individuals are guaranteed a fair legal process and the protection of their rights when they are involved in legal proceedings. The other options pertain to rights that are protected by different amendments or aspects of state authority. For example, the prohibition on restricting free speech is primarily covered under the First Amendment, whereas voting rights are addressed through various provisions in amendments like the Fifteenth and Nineteenth. The imposition of taxes on residents is not directly related to the guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment. Instead, that concern is typically addressed through state laws and other constitutional provisions concerning taxation. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizing due process is fundamental to the Fourteenth Amendment’s purpose of ensuring justice and equitable treatment within legal systems.