What must the government provide when taking property for public use according to just compensation rules?

The requirement of just compensation when the government takes property for public use is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and is intended to ensure that property owners are fairly compensated for their losses. The correct answer emphasizes that the government must provide "the fair market value at the time of taking." This means that the government must assess the value of the property as it stands at the moment of the taking, which reflects what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller under normal market conditions.

By focusing on fair market value, the rules aim to ensure that property owners are not unduly burdened by the government's need for land. It ensures that they receive an amount that reflects the current economic conditions and the property's value in the market, rather than just a historical or arbitrary figure.

Other options such as the original purchase price, a nominal fee, or the assessed value of the property do not provide a proper basis for compensation as they can be outdated or not reflective of the property's current worth in the market. The original purchase price may be irrelevant if market conditions have changed significantly since that time. A nominal fee would not satisfy the constitutional requirement for just compensation, and assessed values typically used for tax purposes may not accurately reflect the fair market value. Thus, fair