equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

Examples of equal protection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It was filed in federal court and claims the practice violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and its delegation of elections authority to state legislatures. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2024

Any consideration of due process is no longer before the court, since the Biden administration’s appeal for the Supreme Court to take up this case focused only on equal protection. —Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024

Critics argue that all these programs unfairly prioritize businesses based on race, potentially violating constitutional equal protection rights. —Geri Stengel, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Thursday marks 34 years since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act guaranteeing equal protection for people with disabilities. —Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

called also equal protection of the law

see also rational basis test, strict scrutiny, suspect classification

Note: The equal protection requirement of the Constitution protects against legislation that affects individuals differently without a rational basis for doing so. In reviewing claims of denial of equal protection, a court will uphold legislation that has a rational basis unless the legislation affects a fundamental right or involves a suspect classification, such as race. In such a case, the court will use a strict scrutiny standard of review and will strike down legislation that does not show a compelling need for discriminating.