What government power allows for the compulsory purchase of private property for public use?

The correct answer is the power of eminent domain, which refers to the government's authority to take private property for public use, provided that the owner is given just compensation. This power is grounded in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which stipulates that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

Eminent domain is typically invoked for projects such as building highways, schools, or parks where the public interest outweighs the individual's right to keep their property. The process ensures that private property can be utilized for projects that serve the larger community while also protecting the owner’s rights through fair compensation.

While condemnation is often closely related to eminent domain, as it refers to the legal process through which the government exercises this power, it is not the broad term that encompasses all aspects of the power to acquire property. Zoning, on the other hand, involves regulating land use and does not involve the government's direct purchase of land. Finally, regulatory takings refer to instances where the government restricts the use of property to such an extent that it effectively deprives the owner of its economic value, without physically taking it, which is different from the principle of using eminent domain for public acquisition.