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Constitutional Law I
Section 10

Resources

Amendments 13, 14, 15
and
Title 18 and 42 Statutes

University of Iowa College of Law
Iowa City, Iowa
Nicholas Johnson
Spring 2003

[revised 20030219]

Amendment XIII
(1865) 
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 Amendment XIV
(1868) 
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

 Amendment XV
(1870) 
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Individuals State Action
Civil 42 U.S.C. Section 1985(3)
Depriving persons of rights or privileges

If two or more persons . . .  conspire . . . for the 
purpose of depriving . . . any person . . . of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws; or for the purpose of . . . 
hindering the constituted authorities [or to prevent] any 
citizen who is lawfully entitled to vote . . . ; in any case of conspiracy . . . the party so injured or deprived may have an action for the recovery of damages . . ..
 

 42 U.S.C. Section 1983
Section 1983. Civil action for deprivation of rights 

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State . . . subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding . . ..
Criminal 18 U.S.C. Section 241
Conspiracy against rights 

If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State . . . in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States . . . They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned . . ..

 

 18 U.S.C. Section 242
Deprivation of rights under color of law 

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State . . . to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or  protected by the   Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race . . . shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year . . ..

[20030219]