Which amendment protects individuals against self-incrimination and ensures due process?

The 5th Amendment is essential in safeguarding individual rights within the legal system. It explicitly protects individuals from self-incrimination, allowing a person to refuse to answer questions that may incriminate them in a criminal case. This concept is well-known as "pleading the Fifth." Additionally, the 5th Amendment ensures due process, meaning that the government must follow fair procedures before it can deprive a person of life, liberty, or property.

This dual protection is vital in maintaining justice and fairness in legal proceedings, ensuring that individuals are not forced to become witnesses against themselves and that they receive fair treatment under the law. This amendment establishes critical legal protections that are foundational to the broader rights guaranteed in the Constitution.