In legal terms, what is "due process"?

Due process refers to a constitutional guarantee that protects individuals from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property. This principle is enshrined in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that individuals cannot be deprived of these fundamental rights without legal proceedings that are fair and just. Due process requires that state and federal governments respect all legal rights owed to a person, including fair trial rights, the opportunity to be heard, and the right to appeal. It embodies the idea that laws and legal procedures should be applied in a fair manner and that individuals must have the opportunity to defend themselves against accusations or deprivation of rights.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different legal concepts: the first choice is about filing legal complaints, which is a procedural step rather than a protective legal principle; the third option relates to corporate law without relevance to individual rights; and the fourth option refers to alternative dispute resolution, which differs from the formal legal protections offered by due process. Each of these concepts operates within the legal system but does not encapsulate the fundamental protections implied by the notion of due process.