Which amendment also imposes equal protection on the federal government?

Which amendment also imposes equal protection on the federal government?

• A. First Amendment
• B. Fifth Amendment
• C. Fourth Amendment
• D. Tenth Amendment

Answer: (B)

Equal protection binds the government actions, but the way it binds the federal government is through the Fifth Amendment. While the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection for state and local actions, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause as containing an equal protection component that applies to the federal government. This interpretation came from Bolling v. Sharpe, which held that the federal government cannot deny people equal protection of the laws. So, the amendment that also imposes equal protection on the federal government is the Fifth Amendment. The other amendments cited don’t carry an equal protection guarantee against the federal government in the same way.

Equal protection binds the government actions, but the way it binds the federal government is through the Fifth Amendment. While the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection for state and local actions, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause as containing an equal protection component that applies to the federal government. This interpretation came from Bolling v. Sharpe, which held that the federal government cannot deny people equal protection of the laws. So, the amendment that also imposes equal protection on the federal government is the Fifth Amendment. The other amendments cited don’t carry an equal protection guarantee against the federal government in the same way.