A legal principle enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This principle prohibits discrimination and ensures that all individuals are entitled to equal treatment under the law, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics. Equal protection requires that laws and government policies be applied fairly and without unjustifiable distinctions or classifications, and it serves as a cornerstone of civil rights and antidiscrimination law, promoting equality and justice for all citizens.