Final answer:
Equal protection is a constitutional mandate that requires governments to treat all individuals fairly and equally under the law, primarily outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. It is a fundamental aspect of civil rights, ensuring that discrimination is only valid if it serves a legitimate governmental interest. The related due process clause also protects individuals from unfair application of laws and arbitrary government actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of equal protection refers to the constitutional mandate that government entities must treat all individuals in similar situations in the same manner. The Equal Protection Clause is found in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and ensures that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This means that laws must not discriminate against groups or individuals without a valid governmental reason, like maintaining public safety. The amendment's intention was to establish equality as stated in the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which came as a response to the inequality experienced by African Americans, particularly following the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision which denied them citizenship. Over time, the scope of equal protection has expanded to include other characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, and disability.
Due process, also essential for safeguarding individual rights, has two components: procedural due process and substantive due process. Procedural due process means that laws must be applied fairly and equally, while substantive due process refers to the fairness of laws themselves. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments each feature a due process clause that acts as a safeguard from the arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the government outside the sanction of the law.