The government's power to acquire private property for public purposes is known as what?

The correct answer, eminent domain, refers to the government's legal authority to take private property for public use while compensating the owner. This power is crucial for government projects such as the construction of roads, schools, or public utilities, and it is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. The process typically involves a formal procedure where the government must demonstrate that the acquisition serves a public benefit and ensure that the property owner receives fair payment.

Other concepts listed, such as escheat, relate to property reverting to the state when an individual dies without heirs or a will, while adverse possession deals with someone claiming ownership of land through continuous possession over a statutory period. Inverse condemnation refers to a situation where a property owner seeks compensation from the government for a property devaluation caused by public actions, which is not the same as the initial acquisition of property through eminent domain. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the unique role of eminent domain in property law.