What does the constitution state about equality?
Asked by: Alyson Hickle | Last update: March 31, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (11 votes)
The U.S. Constitution addresses equality primarily through the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, stating no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws," meaning similarly situated people must be treated alike. While the Constitution emphasizes equality, particularly through this clause for race, national origin, and other classifications, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), though not fully ratified, aims to provide explicit constitutional guarantees for gender equality, which the 14th Amendment's interpretation has not fully secured, say advocates.
What is equality in the constitution?
The constitutional right to equal protection bars the government from passing laws or taking official actions that treat similarly-situated people or groups of people differently.
What are the constitutional values of equality?
Articles 14-18 of the Indian Constitution guarantee equality before the law, prohibit discrimination based on various grounds, ensure equal opportunities in public employment, abolish untouchability, and prohibit titles. | Vikaspedia -Education.
How does the constitution support the principle of equality?
Article 14 declares that “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India”. There are two concepts involved in article 14 viz., equality before law 'and equal protection of laws'.
What is the equality clause in the Constitution?
9. (1) Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. (2) Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms.
#05 Constitutional Equality
What does the 14th Amendment say about equality?
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.
What is Section 28 of the Constitution?
Section 28 - Children. not be used directly in armed conflict, and to be protected in times of armed conflict. A child's best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.
What does Article 16 say about equality?
Article 16
Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
What is the Article 12 of the Constitution?
Definition. In this part, unless the context otherwise requires, "the State" includes the Government and Parliament of India and the Government and the Legislature of each of the States and all local or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.
What is the Article 4 of the Constitution?
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
What is the only mention of equality in the constitution?
Passed by the Senate on June 8, 1866, and ratified two years later, on July 9, 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to all persons "born or naturalized in the United States," including formerly enslaved people, and provided all citizens with “equal protection under the laws,” extending the provisions of ...
What are the five values of the constitution?
The values expressed in the Preamble are expressed as objectives of the Constitution. These are: sovereignty, socialism, secularism, democracy, republican character of Indian State, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, human dignity and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
What is Section 14 of the equality Act?
Now, Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 says that direct discrimination because of a mixture of 2 protected characteristics is unlawful. Now, Section 14 does not include ● ● ● indirect discrimination. harassment. pregnancy and maternity, and marriage or civil partnership.
How did equality become a constitutional right?
When the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted in 1868, the Equal Protection Clause, which guarantees equal protection of the laws, did not apply to women. It was not until 1972 that the United States Supreme Court extended equal protection to sex-based discrimination.
What is the Article 5 of the Constitution?
Article V of the U.S. Constitution outlines the process for amending the Constitution, providing two main paths: Congress can propose amendments (requiring a two-thirds vote in both houses) or a national convention can be called (if two-thirds of state legislatures request it), with all proposed amendments needing ratification by three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or special conventions, with safeguards against depriving any state of equal Senate representation without consent.
What is the Article 25 to 28?
In India, the Right to Freedom of Religion is guaranteed under Articles 25-28 of the Constitution. It assures citizens the liberty to follow, profess, and promote any religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.
What is the Article 19 of the Constitution?
Freedom to Practice Profession, Occupation, Trade, or Business - Article 19(1)(g) provides the right to practice any profession, occupation, trade, or business. Citizens have the freedom to choose and engage in their preferred livelihoods.
What is the right to equality?
The Constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws. It means that the laws apply in the same manner to all, regardless of a person's status. This is called the rule of law. Rule of law is the foundation of any democracy.
What is the Article 9 of the Equality Act?
Article 9 protects your right to hold both religious and non-religious beliefs. This is an absolute right which means it can't be interfered with by the state. Article 9 includes the right to choose or change your religion or beliefs. It also means you can't be forced to have a particular religion.
What is Section 15 of the Equality Act 2010?
This section provides that it is discrimination to treat a disabled person unfavourably not because of the person's disability itself but because of something arising from, or in consequence of, his or her disability, such as the need to take a period of disability-related absence.
What does article 29 of Human Rights mean?
Article 29: Duty to Your Community
So far, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has concentrated on rights that every person has simply by virtue of being born human. Now Article 29 says the corollary of rights is duties. We all have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms.
What is Section 72 of the Constitution?
Removal of justices from office. Section 72 of the Constitution provides that justices may only be removed from office by the Governor-General in Council, on an address from both Houses of the Parliament in the same session, praying for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
What is section 25 of the Constitution?
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Does the Constitution say all people are equal?
The Fourteenth Amendment addresses many aspects of citizenship and the rights of citizens. The most commonly used -- and frequently litigated -- phrase in the amendment is "equal protection of the laws", which figures prominently in a wide variety of landmark cases, including Brown v.
What is the Article 4 Section 4?
Section 4 Republican Form of Government
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.