Final answer:
The Fourteenth Amendment prohibits a state from denying any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws. It is crucial to civil rights and extends the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states. The Amendment establishes citizenship and includes a due process clause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fourteenth Amendment, added to the US Constitution in 1868, prohibits a state from denying any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws. It is a crucial component of civil rights as it extends the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states. The Fourteenth Amendment also establishes citizenship as anyone born or naturalized in the United States and includes a due process clause that ensures fair treatment and access to procedural justice.