The term "child" does not necessarily mean a minor, and can include adult children as well as adult non-dependent children. Children are generally afforded the basic rights embodied by the Constitution.
The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment is said to apply to children, but excludes those not yet born. There are both state and federal sources of children’s-rights law. In other words, a child has many of the same Constitutional rights as an adult has; however, if a child is under 18 years old, they do not have the right to vote.
Federal Material
Federal Statutes
- 25 U.S.C., Ch. 21 - Indian Child Welfare Act
- 42 U.S.C. Ch. 21 - Civil Rights
- 42 U.S.C., Ch. 67 - Child Abuse Prevention and Adoption Reform Act
- 42 U.S.C., Ch. 7 - Social Security Act
- 42 U.S.C., Ch. 6 - The Children's Bureau
State Material
State Statutes
- Uniform Laws Dealing with Children – including:
- Uniform Parentage Act
- Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (Adopted in All States and the District of Columbia)
- State Laws on Emancipation
- State Family Law Statutes
International Material
Conventions and Treaties
- Convention Concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (June 26, 1973)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (November 20, 1989)
- Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement & Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility & Measures for the Prot. of Children
- Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour
Additional Resources
- Federal Agency: Administration for Children & Families
- UNICEF
- Child Welfare Library
- Children's Defense Fund
- National Youth Rights Association
- Child Rights International Network
- National Association of Counsel for Children
- ABA Center on Children & the Law
- ABA Standards for the Custody, Placement and Care; Legal Representation; and Adjudication of Unaccompanied Alien Children in the United States
- ABA Children's Rights Litigation Committee
[Last reviewed in May of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]