What action must be taken for the government to legally take private property under eminent domain?

The requirement for "just compensation" is essential in the context of eminent domain, as it ensures that when the government takes private property for public use, the property owner is fairly compensated for their loss. This principle is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which includes the clause that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

This measure is designed to protect property owners from unfair or arbitrary seizure of their property by the state or local governments and requires that the compensation reflects the fair market value of the property being taken. This aspect of the eminent domain process emphasizes the balance between the needs of the public and the rights of individual property owners.

While public hearings or approvals from councils or courts may play a role in the overall process of eminent domain, they do not supersede the fundamental requirement of providing just compensation to those whose property is being taken. Therefore, without ensuring just compensation, the act of taking property under eminent domain would lack legal legitimacy.