Final answer:
Due process is a legal principle assuring fair treatment through the judicial system, balancing individual rights with government power. It encompasses both procedural and substantive components, safeguarding individuals from government actions that are arbitrary or unjust.
Step-by-step explanation:
Due process is a fundamental legal principle that ensures fair treatment through the normal judicial system. It is a critical aspect of the rule of law that balances individual rights against the powers of the government. Procedural due process details the procedures the government must follow when it deprives an individual of life, liberty, or property. Meanwhile, substantive due process refers to the individual's right to be treated fairly by the government, establishing that certain rights, such as privacy and autonomy, are so fundamental that the government may not infringe upon them without a compelling reason.
In the context of the U.S. Constitution, due process is enshrined in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, ensuring the government does not act in a manner that's arbitrary, unfair, or unreasonable. This principle serves as a safeguard from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the government outside the sanction of law. Conducting a fair performance appraisal in the workplace, respecting human rights, and upholding individual rights are all contemporary applications of the principle of due process.