Which amendment guarantees equal protection of laws and prohibits discrimination in treatment or favor on the basis of race, color, or other arbitrary grounds?

• A. 4th Amendment
• B. 6th Amendment
• C. 14th Amendment
• D. 8th Amendment

Answer: (C)

Equal protection under the law means the government cannot treat people differently based on race, color, or other arbitrary characteristics, and must apply laws fairly to similarly situated individuals. This principle is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, specifically its Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The other amendments protect different rights: the Fourth Amendment concerns searches and seizures, the Sixth guarantees rights in criminal prosecutions, and the Eighth prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The key idea here is that government actions at the state level must treat people fairly and cannot discriminate without a rational basis or a compelling reason, depending on the level of scrutiny required.