Overview of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies individuals who have engaged in rebellion or insurrection against the United States from holding public office. It was initially meant to prevent former Confederate officials from serving again after the Civil War. Section 3 does not provide a specific mechanism for enforcing the disqualification, but courts have the authority to decide on the eligibility of an individual. Congress also passed the first Ku Klux Klan Act in 1870 to enforce Section 3, allowing for civil and criminal actions to oust ineligible officials. In the present day, there is debate about the use of Section 3 to prevent former President Donald Trump and other politicians from running for office again.