Equal Protection Clause
Definition
Part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution providing that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction "the equal protection of the laws".
Analogy
Consider it as if we all live in one big neighborhood - America. Some people might want to set up rules that only apply to certain houses (people), but the Equal Protection Clause is like a neighborhood agreement saying all houses must be treated equally by the homeowners association (the state).
Related terms
Fourteenth Amendment: An amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and slaves who had been emancipated after the American Civil War.
Due Process Clause: A clause in the U.S. Constitution that guarantees fair treatment through normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.
"Equal Protection Clause" appears in:
Study guides (5)
Practice Questions (9)
What does the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provide?
Which amendments was the Equal Protection Clause a part of?
What is the Equal Protection Clause?
If Congress hadn't passed legislation enforcing the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause during Reconstruction Era, how might this affect modern federalism?
How does the principle of Equal Protection Clause in Fourteenth Amendment compare with that of Due Process Clause?
What does the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment do?
Why does the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment continue to be a fundamental aspect of American law?
In what way does the Equal Protection Clause relate to affirmative action?
What role does the Equal Protection Clause play in cases involving affirmative action?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.