Knowra Equal protection Equal protection Equal protection is a constitutional principle requiring governments to treat people alike unless differential treatment is legally justified. In the United States, the Fourteenth Amendment applies it to states, and the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause constrains the federal government.
Rational basis review : A deferential standard asking whether a government classification is rationally related to a legitimate government interest. Most classifications receive this review, under which unequal treatment is usually upheld.
Fourteenth Amendment : A 1868 amendment to the United States Constitution addressing citizenship, due process, and equal protection. Its Equal Protection Clause directly binds state governments.
Brown v. Board of Education : A 1954 Supreme Court decision holding racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The Court rejected segregated public education as incompatible with equal protection.
Due Process Clause : A constitutional provision barring government from depriving people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Due process protects individual interests, while equal protection addresses unjustified differences in government treatment.
Intermediate scrutiny : A standard requiring a classification to serve an important government objective and be substantially related to achieving it. Courts commonly apply it to sex classifications and certain classifications involving children born outside marriage.
Equal Protection Clause : The Fourteenth Amendment provision forbidding states to deny any person within their jurisdiction equal protection of the laws. This clause supplies the principle’s central constitutional text.
Loving v. Virginia : A 1967 Supreme Court decision invalidating state bans on interracial marriage. The Court held that racial restrictions on marriage violated equal protection and due process.
Privileges or Immunities Clause : The Fourteenth Amendment clause forbidding states to abridge the privileges or immunities of United States citizens. It was another Reconstruction-era route for protecting rights, though the Supreme Court has interpreted it narrowly.
Strict scrutiny : The most demanding standard of constitutional review, requiring a compelling government interest and narrow tailoring. Race classifications and certain burdens on fundamental rights generally trigger this demanding test.
Fifth Amendment : A constitutional amendment that includes protections against federal deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The Supreme Court has applied equal-protection principles to the federal government through its Due Process Clause.
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