The Constitution
Fourteenth Amendment
The 1868 amendment guaranteeing birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection against the states, and giving Congress power to enforce them.
In full
It is the most heavily litigated amendment. Section 1 established citizenship for all persons born or naturalized here and barred states from denying due process or equal protection. Later sections address apportionment, disqualify certain oath-breakers from office, and validate the public debt. Section 5 gives Congress enforcement power, the basis for much civil rights legislation.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.