Which constitutional clause prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, a central issue in Craig v. Boren?

• A. Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
• B. Free Exercise Clause
• C. Takings Clause
• D. Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that states cannot deny people equal protection of the laws. In Craig v. Boren, the Supreme Court struck down a state rule that treated men and women differently when it came to alcohol sales, illustrating how the Equal Protection Clause limits state classifications that disadvantage people based on sex. That clause is the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which says no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. It’s about ensuring that similarly situated individuals are treated alike by law.

The other options protect different constitutional interests: the Free Exercise Clause shields religious practice; the Takings Clause requires just compensation when the government takes private property for public use; and the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause bars harsh or disproportionate punishment. So the clause that prohibits denying equal protection is the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.