Eminent Domain & Private Property Rights

It's Your Property, Or Is It?

The Balance between the Government’s Power of Eminent Domain and Your Fifth Amendment Protections

Background: Eminent domain is the power to take property for public use. Not only is this a power of the federal, state and local governments, but it is also a power that may be delegated by the state to municipalities or even private persons or corporations (such as electric or utility companies).