Legal Definitions - equal protection under the law

Equal protection under the law is a constitutional principle that requires the government to treat all people equally. This means that the government cannot discriminate against a person or group of people based on their race, gender, religion, or any other characteristic.

The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law. This means that the government must treat a person or class of persons the same as it treats other persons or classes in like circumstances.

For example, if a law requires all people to pay taxes, the government cannot exempt certain people from paying taxes based on their race or religion. This would be a violation of equal protection under the law.

In today's constitutional jurisprudence, equal protection means that legislation that discriminates must have a rational basis for doing so. And if the legislation affects a fundamental right (such as the right to vote) or involves a suspect classification (such as race), it is unconstitutional unless it can withstand strict scrutiny.

Overall, equal protection under the law ensures that everyone is treated fairly and justly by the government.