THE 14th AMENDMENT — DOES IT PROTECT DEMOCRACY?

The 14th Amendment, one of three amendments passed directly following the Civil War, presents three separate safeguards to democracy:

• Giving citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
• Clarifying how representatives are apportioned to states.
• Removing the right to hold office from anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

According to some, polarization in the United States has once again reached a level comparable to that leading up to the Civil War. At this meeting we will examine this amendment within the context of the issues of the day as we ask such questions as:

• Does the 14th Amendment protect democracy?
• Which of the three safeguards are most relevant today?
• In what ways did the authors of this amendment fail to anticipate future tensions within our country and why?
• What do the arguments around what it means to have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” and “given aid or comfort to the enemies” tell us about our duty as citizens?

Join the Crossing Party Lines discussion and have a voice in our Nation’s Conversation! People of all views are welcomed, appreciated, and heard.