Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

The Fourteenth Amendment is the correct response as it explicitly states that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This amendment was ratified in 1868, primarily to provide rights and protections to formerly enslaved individuals post-Civil War. The Equal Protection Clause, part of the amendment, serves as a critical foundation for civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation, making it a vital element in significant Supreme Court cases involving civil rights and liberties.

The First Amendment, while crucial for protecting freedoms such as speech and religion, does not address equal protection directly. The Ninth Amendment focuses on the rights of individuals that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, while the Fifth Amendment includes protections related to due process and prohibits self-incrimination but does not contain a clause about equal protection. This distinction is essential in understanding the specific function and authority of the Fourteenth Amendment concerning equal protection under the law.