What does the term "equal protection" under the 14th Amendment ensure?

The term "equal protection" under the 14th Amendment ensures that all individuals must be treated equally under the law. This principle is foundational to the American legal system and prohibits discrimination by the government against individuals based on race, gender, religion, or other characteristics. The equal protection clause mandates that states cannot deny any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, which reinforces the idea that everyone deserves the same legal rights and protections.

This concept has been the basis for numerous Supreme Court cases that address inequality and discrimination, emphasizing that laws must apply equally to all people. While the other options all relate to rights and protections in different contexts, they do not capture the core intent of the equal protection clause, which specifically focuses on equality before the law for all individuals.