Eminent Domain Essay

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Professor Quintero PS-102 December 13, 2016 Eminent Domain The Fifth Amendment states “No person shall…be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.” This reserves specific rights to any United States citizen and guarantees that the government cannot just take your property and get nothing in return. Eminent Domain relies on the inherit right of the government to seize private property and or property owned by private citizens. Does it make it ok to have what is yours and only yours just taken away as long as long as it is for the common good and some money? When the government seizes a property it must be for the public interest. The seized This was practiced when private land was taken to construct roads or other needs for the colonies. Although the development of roads benefited the public, the matter of payment for the seized land wasn’t a regulation. The payment to the private land owners was seen more as a courtesy then requirement. The power to exercise eminent domain by the federal government laid inactive until the case of Kohl v. United States, where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government in 1875. Justice William Strong came to the conclusion that “the very nature of sovereignty allowed the taking of land for public use, and also invoked the Takings Clause as supporting the government's right to exercise eminent domain powers” (Newton 1). As the years pass, the powers of eminent domain seem to get interpreted more New London put in motion for 39 states to pass new ballot measures or new legislation to restrict the use of eminent domain. Alabama was first to pass a bill to prohibit eminent domain on properties that are not seen as unfavorable or falling apart to be resold to retailers or other commercial developers without owners consent. For the first time, the practice of eminent domain was put forth before the public by states passing amendments to be voted on. A common theme seen from state to state is that the government cannot take private property just to receive revenue, economic development or to just resell to another private

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