equality before the law
2
3.7
- noun
- Formal
:
igualdad ante la ley
- The principle of equality before the law ensures that everyone is treated fairly regardless of their background.
- the principle of equality before the law
- the guarantee of equality before the law
- equal protection before the law
So the best thing we can do is have a system of equality before the law, where the law treats everyone the same.
- So the best thing we can do is have a system of equality before the law, where the law treats everyone the same.
Examples
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So the best thing we can do is have a system of equality before the law, where the law treats everyone the same.
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Rodrigo de la Cruz rightly concludes that "the principle of equality before the law is valid for the identical and profoundly unjust for the diverse."
Academic text (2008) -
When justice and equality before the law become the basis of government,
Blog text (23) -
As far as government is concerned, justice consists in equality before the law.
Blog text (19) -
The question here is equality before the law... regardless of religion, color, wealth... or, as in this instance, sex.
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The Massachusetts Constitution contained a guarantee of equality before the law, in the form of the declaration that "all men are born free and equal."
Academic text (1994) -
The advances made so far in areas such as equality before the law and children's rights are small but significant nevertheless.
Academic text (2004) -
I think that conservatives and Republicans should continue to promote color-blind policies, traditional values, and equality before the law.
Blog text (34) -
Liberals seek personal freedoms and civil rights, such as equality before the law, protected by constitutions, a Free Press and regular elections.
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The petitioners were demanding equality before the law and democratic representation without regard for church membership, as stipulated by English law in the colony's founding charter.
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
3
7.1
Right for every person to receive the same treatment under the law
Antonyms
How Equal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from 'equality' (equal rights) and 'before the law' (i.e., in relation to or in the sight/authority of the law), so the overall meaning 'equal treatment under the law' can be derived from the parts. This prepositional use of 'before' (not temporal) is common and has direct equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will generally be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Equality before the law may come from the simple image of a fair scale: the idea that equality means the scale does not favor anyone and the law should be even for all. That's why it means 'all people get the same protection and treatment by the law'.