What does equality before the law mean?

Equality before the law means that the law applies equally to everyone. Nobody has special privileges before authorities or courts.

Common mistakes

B: All cantons have the same laws.

Each canton makes its own laws. That is federalism and does not violate equality before the law.

A: Everyone earns the same amount.

Wages are different. Equality before the law is about how the law treats people, not about income.

Equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination

Equality before the law means: all people are equal before the law. The same rules apply to everyone, whether rich or poor, Swiss or foreign. But this does not mean that everyone earns the same amount or has the same amount of holiday. The cantons may also have different laws.

Having a say: rights and obligations · Fundamental rights

Sources

• stadt-zuerich.ch
• fedlex.admin.ch

Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.