Learn
Equal protection in everyday decisions
← Back to Rights and responsibilities topics← Back to LearnA civics adventure written for readers of all ages.
Start with a question
How do we make sure rules apply fairly to everyone?
In brief
Equal protection means government should not treat similar people differently without a good reason.
Why this matters
The Fourteenth Amendment requires laws to apply evenly. Courts use different levels of scrutiny depending on the group and the right involved. In schools and local rules, fairness means clear criteria and consistent enforcement.
A simple example
A school dress code must apply the same way to all students, regardless of gender or background.
Questions to think about
- What makes a rule feel fair or unfair?
- When is it okay to treat groups differently? Why?
- How can transparency improve trust in rules?
Try this
Review a sample rule and highlight where bias could sneak in. Rewrite it to improve fairness.
One thing to take away
Explain equal protection in one sentence.
Story bridge
Story bridge
A character questions why only some kids can join a trip. How do they resolve the fairness issue?
Keep exploring
See how readers feel or grab your copy next.
For educators and group orders visit /educators.
The Constitution Kids learning library
theconstitutionkids.com