Final answer:
The age to get a special learner's permit is around 16, though it varies by state. The equal protection clause allows for legal discrimination like age restrictions when it serves a legitimate public interest, such as safety and health standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The age requirement for obtaining a special learner's permit varies by state. In many states in the United States, you typically need to be at least 16 years old to get a learner's permit for driving. The specific information provided seems to relate to the requirements for naturalization, which includes being 18 years of age, but this is not related to the learner's permit for driving.
When it comes to legal discrimination by the government, such as age restrictions for smoking or drinking, these are policies intended to protect health and safety. Similarly, driver's license requirements, including age criteria, aim to ensure that drivers have the necessary knowledge and skills to operate a vehicle safely.
The equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to treat individuals equally under the law. However, this does not prohibit all forms of discrimination but rather ensures that laws and policies have a legitimate purpose and are applied fairly. Therefore, when governments set age restrictions or educational requirements, they do so with the intention of serving a legitimate public interest, such as public safety, health, or education standards.
Ultimately, while everyone is to be treated the same under the equal protection clause, exceptions are made when there is a reasonable and justifiable purpose for the government to engage in differentiation, such as ensuring safe driving through minimum age requirements and testing for driver's licenses.