Which amendment supports the constitutionality of the 42nd U.S. Code, Section 1982 regarding racial discrimination?

The correct answer is rooted in the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. The 42 U.S. Code, Section 1982, addresses issues of racial discrimination in the buying, selling, and leasing of property, and it explicitly prohibits discrimination based on race. The 13th Amendment provides the constitutional foundation for this statute, as it not only abolishes slavery but also grants Congress the power to enforce legislation aimed at eliminating the badges and incidents of slavery, including discriminatory practices in housing.

While the 14th Amendment also deals with civil rights and prohibits discrimination by the states, it is primarily focused on equal protection and due process. The 15th Amendment focuses on voting rights and prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, which, while important in its own right, does not directly pertain to housing and property discrimination like Section 1982 does. Thus, the 13th Amendment most directly supports the constitutionality of Section 1982 as it establishes the foundation for eliminating all forms of racial discrimination connected to the vestiges of slavery.