How do the 5th and 14th Amendments differ in terms of due process?

The correct answer highlights that the 5th Amendment protects individuals from the federal government, while the 14th Amendment extends those protections to include state governments.

The 5th Amendment includes the Due Process Clause, which ensures that the federal government cannot deprive individuals of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. This clause was designed to safeguard against arbitrary governmental actions at the federal level.

The 14th Amendment, particularly its Due Process Clause, was ratified after the Civil War to provide similar protections against state abuses. It interprets the rights established in the Bill of Rights as applying to state governments, thereby reinforcing the principle that states cannot violate an individual’s due process rights.

Understanding this distinction is crucial because it illustrates the evolution of rights protection in the U.S. legal framework, showcasing the commitment to protecting individual rights against both federal and state encroachments.