What does the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment guarantee?

The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment guarantees that no person shall be denied equal protection under the law. This means that states must treat individuals in similar conditions equally, protecting against discrimination and ensuring that laws are applied fairly to all citizens. This clause has been a foundation for various landmark Supreme Court cases that aimed to dismantle segregation and discrimination, establishing a legal basis for civil rights protections.

The other options, while related to important civil rights issues, do not specifically define the scope of the Equal Protection Clause. For example, voting rights and freedom from discrimination in education are topics influenced by this clause, but they are not the precise guarantee it provides. The notion of equal treatment under federal law is also significant but does not encapsulate the essence of what the Equal Protection Clause enshrines in the Constitution.