Reading, PA – In celebration of Constitution Day, Berks County Bar Association Executive Director Donald F. Smith Jr., Esq., will speak about the history of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Sept. 17, 4:30 p.m., in Albright College’s Student Center. This event is free and open to the public.
Proposed in response to issues related to emancipated slaves following the Civil War, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified 150 years ago (1868), addressing citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. By directly addressing the role of the states, the 14th Amendment greatly expanded the protection of civil rights to Americans and is cited in more litigation than any other amendment.
In all, the amendment comprises five sections, four of which began in 1866 as separate proposals that stalled in legislative process and were amalgamated into a single amendment. The original document can be viewed on the Library of Congress website.
