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Today I learned the 14th amendment was probably illegally ratified because Confederate states were forced to ratify it in order to regain Federal representation. It gave congress unprecedented Powers not intended under the original constitution. It is the progeny of so many problematic pieces of legislation like the civil Rights act of 1964 as well as giving corporations citizenship. It's also the direct progeny of hate speech laws and what are now reverse discrimination laws. And it took away powers that were intended to remain with the state and greatly increased federal powers over the states which was not intended by the original constitution. Here is a description of the legislation by senate.gov and it's important to note this was originated by the Senate not by the people of different states wanting this amendment. It was originated by the Senate and it was then ratified by States in the states were under duress to ratify it so it was not a regular or even a legal ratification probably.

This is a description of it from senate.gov

"Landmark Legislation: The Fourteenth Amendment
Image: page one of the Fourteenth Amendment
Passed by the Senate on June 8, 1866, and ratified two years later, on July 9, 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to all persons "born or naturalized in the United States," including formerly enslaved people, and provided all citizens with “equal protection under the laws,” extending the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states. The amendment authorized the government to punish states that abridged citizens’ right to vote by proportionally reducing their representation in Congress. It banned those who “engaged in insurrection” against the United States from holding any civil, military, or elected office without the approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate. The amendment prohibited former Confederate states from repaying war debts and compensating former slave owners for the emancipation of their enslaved people. Finally, it granted Congress the power to enforce this amendment, a provision that led to the passage of other landmark legislation in the 20th century, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Congress required former Confederate states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment as a condition of regaining federal representation."