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

The federal lawsuit filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan accuses the school of violating the students’ constitutional rights to free speech, due process and equal protection under the law. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024

Indeed, such a challenge would squarely confront significant questions about the scope of equal protection rights for uniformed servicemembers—a question that our legal system is usually loathe to address. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court said that the exemption violated equal protection principles and mandated the IDF to start drafting. —Mick Krever, CNN, 27 Sep. 2024

The case hinges specifically on whether Tennessee’s ban violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as the Justice Department claims. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 5 Dec. 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.