Final answer:
The action by a state that would not violate the 14th Amendment is requiring citizens to pay taxes regardless of their beliefs, which applies equally to all citizens and is consistent with the provisions of the 14th Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the student's question, which concerns actions that would violate the 14th Amendment, is legislation requiring citizens to pay taxes regardless of their beliefs. The 14th Amendment provides broad protections, including equal protection under the law and the due process clause, which are fundamental to ensuring that all citizens are treated fairly by state governments. It overturned previous doctrines such as the Dred Scott decision and explicitly denies states the ability to abridge the rights of U.S. citizens.
- A zoning law prohibiting naturalized citizens from operating ethnic restaurants would violate the equal protection clause because it discriminates against a specific group of citizens.
- A bill requiring children of citizens of a particular ethnic origin to attend separate public schools would also violate the equal protection clause by imposing segregation based on ethnicity.
- Sentencing a person accused of murder without a trial contradicts the due process clause of the 14th Amendment, as it denies the individual their legal right to a fair trial.
However, requiring citizens to pay taxes does not violate the 14th Amendment since taxation is a general duty that applies to all citizens, irrespective of their individual beliefs, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or citizenship status.