The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution says that no person may be tried twice for the same offense: This is known as:

• A. Due process
• B. Double jeopardy
• C. Habeas corpus
• D. Plea bargaining

Answer: (B)

Double jeopardy is the protection that prevents someone from being tried twice for the same offense after a valid verdict or punishment. It comes from the Fifth Amendment and ensures finality in criminal cases, so once a person is acquitted or convicted, the government can’t retry them for that same crime. In practice, this safeguards individuals from being subjected to endless prosecutions for the same act. The other terms refer to different ideas: due process is about fair treatment in legal proceedings, habeas corpus is a writ to challenge unlawful detention, and plea bargaining is negotiating a guilty plea for a lesser charge or sentence.