Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution includes the Equal Protection Clause?

The Fourteenth Amendment includes the Equal Protection Clause, which was adopted in 1868 as part of the Reconstruction Amendments aiming to protect the rights of formerly enslaved individuals in the aftermath of the Civil War. This clause establishes that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Essentially, it requires that individuals in similar situations be treated equally by the law, laying the groundwork for many landmark Supreme Court cases regarding civil rights.

The relevance of the Equal Protection Clause extends to a wide range of legislation and judicial decisions, influencing issues related to discrimination and inequality in various contexts, such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Its inclusion in the Fourteenth Amendment strengthens the notion of equality before the law, a cornerstone principle in American democracy.