Word of the Day
September 28, 2021
Equal Protection
A constitutional principle, enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment, requiring that the government treat all individuals equally under the law regardless of race, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics. It prohibits discriminatory classifications unless the government can demonstrate a compelling interest.
From Latin 'aequalis' (equal) and 'protegere' (to protect). The concept was enshrined in American law through the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, to guarantee that freed slaves would receive the same legal protections as all other citizens.
Usage Examples
- The Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
- Pacific Legal Foundation argued that Colorado's race-based grant program violated the equal protection rights of excluded business owners.
- Under equal protection principles, the government cannot distribute benefits or burdens based on the color of a person's skin.
From the Show
Equal protection became the central constitutional question on September 28, 2021 as attorney Wynn Faw explained Pacific Legal Foundation’s challenge to Colorado’s race-based small business grant program.