Final answer:
The statute of limitations for civil provision violations in the U.S. varies by specific civil action but is typically measured in years. The Fourteenth Amendment and the Constitution provide structures against ex post facto laws, and high-profile court cases like Shelby County v. Holder offer examples of how these laws are interpreted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statute of limitations for violations of the civil provisions in the United States varies depending on the specific civil action in question. Generally, statutes of limitations set time limits for how long a plaintiff can wait before bringing a lawsuit following the alleged civil violation. For instance, certain contract disputes may have a statute of limitations of a few years while other civil rights violations, such as those involving discrimination, may have different designated periods under specific federal laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, clarified some aspects related to civil liberties, essentially prohibiting states from enacting laws that infringe upon the privileges or immunities of citizens.