What is the only mention of equality in the Constitution?
Asked by: Kavon Sauer III | Last update: June 2, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (34 votes)
The U.S. Constitution's primary mention of equality is the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment, stating no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws," requiring similar treatment for similarly situated individuals, a cornerstone of civil rights. While earlier amendments addressed voting rights (like the 15th for race and 19th for sex), the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause provides the broad, fundamental guarantee of equality before the law.
What is the only mention of the idea of equality in the Constitution?
The Equal Protection Clause is part of the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The clause, which took effect in 1868, provides "nor shall any State ...
What part of the Constitution talks about equality?
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 does article 7 of the US Constitution say?
Article VII of the U.S. Constitution is about the ratification process, stating that nine of the thirteen states' conventions needed to approve it for the Constitution to become the law of the land, establishing a pathway for the new government to take effect without requiring unanimous consent from all states, which had previously stalled the Articles of Confederation.
What does the 14th Amendment say about equal rights?
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 ...
Capitalism vs. Socialism | 5 Minute Video
What does the Constitution say about treating people equally?
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 does article 3 of the 14th Amendment say?
Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, known as the Disqualification Clause, bars anyone who has sworn an oath to support the U.S. Constitution but later "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" or given "aid or comfort to the enemies thereof" from holding federal or state office, though Congress can remove this disability with a two-thirds vote. Enacted after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from regaining power, it applies to Senators, Representatives, electors, and civil/military officers, with its relevance recently resurfacing in discussions about January 6th events.
What is Section 9 of Article 1?
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
What is the Article 6 of the Constitution?
Text. All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
Is God mentioned in the US Constitution?
No, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God, Jesus, or Christianity; its focus is secular, establishing government structure and guaranteeing religious freedom, though it uses the phrase "Year of our Lord" for dating the document and mentions "religion" in the First Amendment regarding no establishment of religion. The document instead separates church and state, ensuring no religious test for office and prohibiting a government-established religion, reflecting the founders' aim for religious liberty.
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.
What are arguments against right to equality?
Opposing arguments against the ERA highlight the 14th Amendment and argue that women are already guaranteed equal rights under the law. However, the 14th Amendment was passed in 1868 to give former male slaves equal protection and voting rights.
What is the right of 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 section of the Constitution talks about equality?
Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
Where does it say all men are created equal?
The Declaration of Independence. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Where is the Equal Rights Amendment now?
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects the equality of rights under the law regardless of sex. While the ERA is fully ratified and was recognized by a US President as the law of the land, it has yet to be officially published in the Constitution.
What does article 6 prohibit?
After requiring all federal and state legislators and officers to swear or affirm to support the federal Constitution, Article VI specifies that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” This prohibition, commonly known as the No Religious Test ...
What is Section 9 of 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.
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 Section 10 of the Constitution?
10. Human dignity. Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
Is the 3-5 clause still in the Constitution?
No, the Three-Fifths Compromise is not still in the Constitution; it was effectively repealed by the 14th Amendment after the Civil War, which changed the basis for representation to the "whole number of persons" in each state, counting all people equally. While the original text of Article I, Section 2 still exists, its function was nullified by this amendment, which replaced the formula for counting enslaved people with one that counts all inhabitants for apportionment.
What does Article 1 Section 8 mean?
Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution lists the specific, or "enumerated," powers of the U.S. Congress, including the authority to tax, borrow money, regulate commerce, coin money, establish post offices, declare war, and provide for the common defense and general welfare, along with the crucial "Necessary and Proper" Clause (Clause 18) granting implied powers. This section defines the scope of federal legislative authority, with powers not listed reserved for the states or the people.
What is the full 13th amendment?
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
What does the 25th amendment say?
What does the 25th amendment say? It provides that a president can be removed if the vice president and a majority of the “principal officers of the executive departments” — that is, the cabinet — determines he or she is “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office.
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.