Which two parts comprise due process?

• A. Procedural and Substantive
• B. Civil and Criminal
• C. Federal and State
• D. Positive and Negative

Answer: (A)

Due process includes two components: procedural protections and substantive protections. Procedural due process means the government must follow fair steps before someone can be deprived of life, liberty, or property—this includes notice, a meaningful opportunity to be heard, an impartial decision-maker, and a fair process to present evidence. Substantive due process focuses on the fairness of the laws themselves, guarding fundamental rights from arbitrary government interference even when the procedures are proper. Together, these ensure both that the right procedures are followed and that the rights being protected aren’t unjustly overridden by the law itself. The other options describe types of law, levels of government, or categories of rights, but they aren’t the two parts of due process.