Which Supreme Court decision declared same-sex marriage a constitutional right?

• A. Obergefell v. Hodges
• B. Roe v. Wade
• C. Brown v. Board of Education
• D. National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius

Answer: (A)

This question tests how the Fourteenth Amendment protects individual liberties and equal protection when it comes to marriage. The decision in Obergefell v. Hodges held that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry, guaranteed by due process and equal protection. Because of that, states must license marriages between same-sex couples and recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The ruling effectively nationalized marriage equality across the United States, ensuring that denying or restricting marriage to gay and lesbian couples would violate the Constitution.

For context, Roe v. Wade concerns abortion rights under the right to privacy, Brown v. Board of Education struck down racial segregation in public schools, and National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius addressed the Affordable Care Act and the federal taxing power. These are about different constitutional issues, so they don’t establish a nationwide right to same-sex marriage.