Final answer:
Due process is a constitutional promise that government agents must respect individual rights by following legal procedures before depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property. It consists of procedural and substantive components, ensuring fair treatment and protection against unjust laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Due process is a constitutional guarantee that prevents the government from interfering with individuals' life, liberty, or property without a fair and predetermined set of rules, generally known as legal procedure. As such, government agents are required to follow these legal procedures and operate within the bounds of the law, ensuring fairness and impartial treatment for all individuals. This concept is enshrined in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the US Constitution, applying not only to US citizens but to all persons within the country's jurisdiction.
There are two key components of due process: procedural due process and substantive due process. Procedural due process mandates that the government follow certain steps before depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property. This includes the right to a fair trial, notice of legal proceedings, and the opportunity to appear in court and be heard. Substantive due process, on the other hand, protects individuals from the government making laws that could violate fundamental rights, even if the proper procedures are followed.
Due process ensures the rule of law is maintained and individual rights are respected, with any violation constituting an offence against the principles of fairness and equality under the law.