The Equal Protection Clause is a provision found in the 14th Amendment to the United States [[Constitution]], which was ratified in 1868. It is a fundamental part of American constitutional law and serves as a cornerstone for [[civil rights]] protections. The clause reads: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." ## Equality under the law In essence, the Equal Protection Clause requires that all individuals be treated equally under the law and prohibits states from denying any person equal protection of the laws. This means that the government must treat people in similar situations in a similar manner, without unjustified [[discrimination]]. The clause applies not only to citizens but also to all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States. The Equal Protection Clause has been the basis for numerous landmark decisions by [[The Supreme Court]], which have shaped the course of civil rights in America. Some notable cases include: 1. **[[Brown v. Board of Education]] (1954)**: This case declared racial [[segregation]] in public schools unconstitutional, marking a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement. 2. **Loving v. Virginia (1967)**: The Court struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriage, finding that they violated the Equal Protection Clause. 3. **Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)**: In this case, the Court upheld the use of race as a factor in university admissions, allowing affirmative action programs to address historical discrimination. 4. **Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)**: The Court held that the Equal Protection Clause requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriages, effectively legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. The Equal Protection Clause has played a crucial role in expanding [[civil rights]] and ensuring that all individuals receive equal treatment under the law. However, the interpretation and application of the clause continue to evolve as new legal challenges arise, with ongoing debates about issues such as voting rights, gender [[discrimination]], and affirmative action.