What does the Equal Protection Clause guarantee?

The Equal Protection Clause, found in the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, guarantees that every individual is treated equally under the law. This means that no state can deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The clause has been the basis for many landmark Supreme Court decisions that address issues of discrimination, civil rights, and equal treatment.

The focus is on ensuring fairness and prohibiting arbitrary discrimination by the government against individuals or groups. This principle has been crucial in various cases involving race, gender, and other forms of discrimination, reinforcing the idea that the law should apply equally to all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

Other options suggest limitations or exclusions that contradict the fundamental purpose of the Equal Protection Clause, which is to uphold equal treatment and rights for all individuals. For instance, suggesting that rights are granted only to certain groups would create inequality, and claiming that the government can limit personal freedoms contradicts the protection that the clause provides. Hence, the answer accurately reflects the intended meaning of the Equal Protection Clause.