Trump v. Barbara · ¶454

First, §1 of the Fourteenth Amendment uses the word “jurisdiction” twice—once in the Citizenship Clause and once in the Equal Protection Clause—and the wording of the two clauses differs. The Citizenship Clause applies to those “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States, whereas the Equal Protection Clause applies to “any person within [a State’s] jurisdiction.” When Congress uses disparate language (especially in the same provision), we presume that the difference matters. Pulsifer v. United States, 601 U. S. 124, 149 (2024); Southwest Airlines Co. v. Saxon, 596 U. S. 450, 457–458 (2022); A. Scalia & B. Garner, Reading Law 170 (2012). Therefore, we must presume that the scope of the two provisions is different. Accord, ante, at 64 (THOMAS, J., dissenting).

slip opinion, revised 7/01/26
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