Political Institutions Constitutional Law Questions
The concept of equal protection under the law in constitutional law refers to the principle that all individuals, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics, should be treated equally by the government and its laws. It is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This principle ensures that all individuals are entitled to the same legal rights, privileges, and opportunities, and that discriminatory treatment based on certain characteristics is prohibited.