📚 Topic Summary: Obergefell v. Hodges and the 14th Amendment
The landmark 2015 Supreme Court case, Obergefell v. Hodges, fundamentally altered the legal landscape for same-sex marriage in the United States. Prior to this ruling, the legality of same-sex marriage varied significantly from state to state. The petitioners in this case argued that state bans on same-sex marriage violated their constitutional rights.
The Supreme Court ultimately ruled 5-4 that the 14th Amendment requires all states to license and recognize same-sex marriage. The majority opinion, penned by Justice Anthony Kennedy, asserted that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause (which protects liberties, including the right to marry) and the Equal Protection Clause (which ensures that all citizens are treated equally under the law) of the 14th Amendment. This decision established marriage equality nationwide, solidifying a significant civil rights victory.
📝 Part A: Vocabulary
Instructions: Match each term with its correct definition by writing the letter of the definition next to the term.
- ⚖️ Obergefell v. Hodges: _______
- 📜 14th Amendment: _______
- 🔒 Due Process Clause: _______
- 🤝 Equal Protection Clause: _______
- ❤️ Same-Sex Marriage: _______
Definitions:
- Ensures that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
- The legal union of two people of the same gender.
- A post-Civil War amendment that granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and guarantees equal protection and due process.
- A Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in the United States.
- Guarantees that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Instructions: Complete the following paragraph using the words provided below.
The Supreme Court's decision in ___________ v. Hodges in 2015 mandated that all states must license and recognize ___________ marriage. The ruling was based on the principles of the ___________ Amendment, specifically citing the ___________ Protection Clause and the ___________ Process Clause. This landmark decision affirmed the fundamental right to marry for all couples, ensuring ___________ treatment under the law.
- 🇺🇸 Obergefell
- 🏳️🌈 same-sex
- ⚖️ 14th
- ✅ Equal
- 📖 Due
- 🌟 equal
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Instructions: Answer the following question in 2-3 sentences.
- 🌍 How did the Supreme Court's interpretation of the 14th Amendment in Obergefell v. Hodges expand the understanding of individual liberties and civil rights in the United States?