Which concept allows the government to take private property for public use while providing just compensation?

The concept that allows the government to take private property for public use while providing just compensation is eminent domain. This legal principle is rooted in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation.

Eminent domain serves a critical function by enabling the government to acquire land needed for public projects, such as highways, schools, parks, or utilities, which benefit the general population. The requirement for "just compensation" ensures that property owners are compensated fairly for their loss, typically at the market value of the property taken.

In contrast, the other options do not pertain to the government's ability to seize private property. Encroachment involves a situation where a physical object extends over property lines, which is unrelated to the government's power of taking land. Equitable redemption refers to a legal principle concerning the right to reclaim property after a foreclosure, and equity pertains to fairness or justice in the way people are treated, but neither applies to the acquisition of property for public use.