Which amendment extends the protection of the US Constitution to the state level?

Which amendment extends the protection of the US Constitution to the state level?

• A. First
• B. Fourth
• C. Fourteenth
• D. Eighth

Answer: (C)

The key idea is incorporation through the Fourteenth Amendment. The Bill of Rights originally limited only the federal government. The Fourteenth Amendment, with its Due Process and Equal ProtectionClauses, has been used by courts to apply most of those federal protections to state and local governments as well. In practice, that means state actions must respect the same fundamental rights—so constitutional protections are extended to people at the state level. The other amendments listed are part of the original protections, but they don’t automatically apply to states unless incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment.

The key idea is incorporation through the Fourteenth Amendment. The Bill of Rights originally limited only the federal government. The Fourteenth Amendment, with its Due Process and Equal ProtectionClauses, has been used by courts to apply most of those federal protections to state and local governments as well. In practice, that means state actions must respect the same fundamental rights—so constitutional protections are extended to people at the state level. The other amendments listed are part of the original protections, but they don’t automatically apply to states unless incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment.