What does ‘due process’ ensure under the Fifth Amendment?

The concept of 'due process' under the Fifth Amendment ensures that individuals are afforded fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's legal rights are respected. It emphasizes that no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures and protections in place.

Among the options presented, the correct answer relates directly to due process as it encompasses the rights of individuals in legal proceedings. The protection from self-incrimination is a specific aspect of due process, established to ensure that individuals cannot be compelled to testify against themselves, thereby safeguarding their right to a fair trial. This protection is a fundamental part of the broader due process rights designed to prevent unjust legal actions and ensure that individuals are treated fairly in court.

The other options do not directly pertain to the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. A speedy trial is more specifically related to the Sixth Amendment, while the right to bear arms is associated with the Second Amendment, and freedom of speech pertains to the First Amendment. Each of these rights is crucial but falls outside the specific protections offered by the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.