From the founding of our nation to the present day, the common thread in America’s most transformative moments has been the enduring promise of the Constitution and the opportunity to perfect our democracy. Each generation has carried forward the work of expanding freedom, justice, and equality—whether through revolution and the creation of the Constitution, the abolition of slavery and Reconstruction, the New Deal reforms during the Great Depression, or the Civil Rights Movement. Together, these struggles affirm that the ideals of democracy in the United States are not just words—democracy is a reality that can be advanced by We the People.

At the heart of this democratic promise lies the Fourteenth Amendment. Ratified in 1868, it declared that citizenship, due process, and equal protection belonged to all people—and that government has a responsibility to ensure those rights are real. 

But the amendment was never meant to be a static historic marker. It is a living tool that both protects against harm and compels the government to affirmatively deliver fairness and justice. It is the ground upon which we can grow the seeds of democracy, in the tradition of many leaders before us.

From climate justice to marriage equality to #MeToo, modern day movements are harnessing the Fourteenth Amendment to insist that our democracy not only protect but deliver for all. In these examples, we see that the Fourteenth Amendment is not just a paper shield—it is a fertile ground for us to nurture governing for all, one which belongs to us to leverage.

The Youth Climate Movement: Intergenerational Justice

The Youth Climate Movement, launched in 2018 by Greta Thunberg’s school strikes, quickly grew into a global mobilization demanding bold climate action. In the United States, young people have framed climate change not only as an environmental crisis but also as a matter of justice, insisting that adaptation and mitigation policies prioritize marginalized communities most vulnerable to harm. 

Through research, education, organizing, policy advocacy, and litigation, youth activists have raised global awareness and reshaped climate politics. Landmark cases such as Juliana v. United States and Held v. Montana argue that government support for fossil fuels violates constitutional rights, particularly under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. 

These lawsuits establish a profound principle: that governments have a duty to protect the environment for present and future generations. By advancing this claim, young people are extending the promise of constitutional rights into the realm of intergenerational justice.

Marriage Equality: Expanding Liberty and Equality 

Like the climate movement, the fight for marriage equality demonstrates how constitutional principles are mobilized to secure new freedoms. Decades of struggle for LGBTQ+ rights involved litigation, legislation, public education, and grassroots organizing. While early court challenges faced backlash, including the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, progress accelerated when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004. 

Over the next decade, growing public support and a wave of state-level victories set the stage for the Supreme Court’s landmark 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. In that case, the Court declared that denying marriage rights to same-sex couples violated both the Due Process Clause, which protects the fundamental liberty to marry, and the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits discrimination under the law. This decision guaranteed marriage equality nationwide, marking not only a historic milestone for LGBTQ+ rights but also a profound affirmation of the Constitution’s capacity to expand liberty and equality to communities once excluded.

The #MeToo Movement: Equality in Public and Private Life 

Building on these legacies, the #MeToo Movement shows how constitutional principles continue to shape our everyday experiences. By amplifying survivors’ voices and exposing the pervasiveness of gender-based violence, #MeToo fundamentally reshaped societal and legal responses to sexual harassment and assault. Its impact has been both cultural and legal—ushering in new workplace practices, enhanced reporting mechanisms, and significant policy reforms such as the Speak Out Act, which prohibits enforcement of certain non-disclosure agreements that prevent disclosure of sexual assault or harassment claims, and the extension or abolition of statutes of limitations for sexual crimes in many states. 

At its core, #MeToo reinforces the constitutional principle of equal protection. Sexual harassment and assault are not merely individual acts of misconduct; they are systemic forms of sex-based discrimination that limit opportunities, suppress voices, and undermine the right to equal treatment under the law. By demanding accountability and reform, #MeToo expands constitutional ideals into civic, professional, and personal life—demonstrating once again how movements can make the promise of equality real.

A Call to Action

From the American Revolution to Reconstruction, from the Civil Rights Movement to today’s struggles for climate justice, marriage equality and #MeToo, the unifying thread is clear: the Constitution is both a framework and mandate for progress. Past and present, our movements show us that democracy is not static—it is a living promise, renewed and expanded by We the People.

The Fourteenth Amendment—paired with the Thirteenth’s charter of freedom—remains the foundation for transformative change. It has bolstered the calls of young people demanding intergenerational climate justice, LGBTQ+ communities securing marriage equality, and survivors insisting on dignity in public and private life. These movements demonstrate what is possible when constitutional principles and the power of the people converge.

Today, as in every era, We the People hold both the opportunity and the responsibility to carry forward this legacy. Galvanized by the victories of our people, our work ahead is a labor of love in seizing this mandate and creating, at long last, a democracy that fully delivers on its promise of justice for all.