The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution contain language protecting individuals from arbitrary governmental action. This concept ensures that the government must respect all legal rights owed to a person. Procedural guarantees mandate fair processes, such as proper notice and the opportunity to be heard, before the government can deprive someone of life, liberty, or property. Substantive protections further prevent the government from infringing upon fundamental rights, even if the procedure is fair on its face. An example of this principle at work is seen in cases involving eminent domain, where the government must provide just compensation for property taken for public use.
The presence of these safeguards is vital to maintaining a system of justice that is equitable and prevents governmental overreach. Historically, this principle has been instrumental in shaping civil rights law, protecting minority groups from discriminatory practices, and ensuring fair trials for the accused. This protection serves as a cornerstone of American jurisprudence, continually evolving through court interpretations and applications to new societal challenges. It is a limitation on government power and a protection of individual liberty, essential for a functional democracy.