What does the principle of equal protection require in Florida?

• A. Government actions must not discriminate and must treat similarly situated people alike.
• B. Government can classify people by any criteria.
• C. Only citizens have equal protection.
• D. Equality is achieved through wealth redistribution.

Answer: (A)

Equal protection means the government must not discriminate and must treat people who are alike in relevant ways the same way under the law. In Florida, this prevents arbitrary classifications and requires laws and policies to apply equally to those who are similarly situated. Some distinctions are allowed if they serve a legitimate public interest and are applied consistently, but arbitrary or unjustified classifications are not allowed. So the idea that the government can classify people by any criteria, that only citizens have equal protection, or that equality comes from wealth redistribution, doesn’t fit how equal protection works.