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What is due process?
← Back to Glossary topics← Back to LearnA civics adventure written for readers of all ages.
Start with a question
Fair procedures protect rights before the government acts.
In brief
Due process means notice, a chance to respond, and a neutral decision maker before rights or property are taken away.
Why this matters
Rooted in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, due process balances government action with fairness. It appears in courts, schools, and agencies. Steps vary, but the core idea is the same: people should know the rules and get a fair hearing.
A simple example
A student discipline meeting shares evidence, lets the student speak, and allows an appeal.
Questions to think about
- Why is fairness about process as well as outcome?
- Where have you seen due process outside of courts?
- What happens when steps are skipped?
Try this
Design a simple process for resolving a classroom dispute. List the steps clearly.
One thing to take away
List two parts of due process.
Story bridge
Story bridge
A misunderstood rule in the story gets sorted out when everyone hears the facts. How did process help?
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