The Fifth Amendment to the [[Constitution]] -- included in the Bill of Rights -- states: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." This amendment, ratified as part of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791, provides several protections and rights to individuals in relation to the federal government (and, due to the incorporation doctrine, to state governments as well): 1. **Grand Jury Clause**: This part of the amendment requires that serious federal criminal charges be started by a grand jury. A grand jury is a group of citizens called to review evidence and determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. 2. **Double Jeopardy Clause**: This part of the amendment protects individuals from being tried twice for the same crime in the same jurisdiction, preventing the government from punishing an individual multiple times for a single offense. 3. **Self-Incrimination Clause**: This part of the amendment protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves in criminal cases. This is the source of the phrase "pleading the Fifth" that's used when someone refuses to answer a question, particularly in a legal setting, on the grounds that they might incriminate themselves. 4. **Due Process Clause**: This part of the amendment guarantees that individuals will not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures and protections. This clause has been used to protect a wide range of rights, such as the right to privacy. 5. **Takings Clause**: This part of the amendment provides that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation. This is known as the principle of eminent domain. The Fifth Amendment's protections are primarily processed in the context of criminal court proceedings, but some aspects (like the protection from self-incrimination) can apply more broadly. For example, the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination can be invoked in any setting where an individual is asked to provide information that could potentially be used in a criminal case against them, such as during police questioning or in a deposition. See also: [[militia]]