Which amendment includes the Takings Clause requiring just compensation when the government takes private property?

• A. The right to a speedy trial
• B. The Takings Clause requiring just compensation
• C. The right to free speech
• D. The right to privacy

Answer: (B)

The Takings Clause is part of the Fifth Amendment. It says the government cannot take private property for public use without paying just compensation. That direct link to protecting property rights and ensuring owners are fairly compensated is why this amendment is the right choice. The government may use eminent domain for a public project, but it must pay the owner a fair price, typically fair market value. The other rights listed correspond to different protections—speedy trial is a Sixth Amendment guarantee, free speech is a First Amendment guarantee, and privacy isn’t stated as a standalone amendment in the Constitution (its protections come from a mix of amendments and case law).