Which of the following statements best explains how the 14th amendment increases the power of the national government

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, significantly increases the power of the national government in several ways, particularly regarding civil rights and liberties. The statement that best explains this is:

**The 14th Amendment empowers the national government to enforce the rights of citizenship and equal protection under the law, allowing it to intervene in state matters where individuals' rights are violated.**

This amendment includes several key provisions, such as the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause, which prevent states from denying individuals their rights and guarantee them equal protection under the law. This created a foundation for the federal government to intervene in areas that were traditionally under state jurisdiction, ensuring that states cannot infringe upon the rights of citizens, thus expanding national authority in protecting civil rights.