Changes

In the decision of ''Kelo v. New London'' (2005), the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to include "public purpose" such as increased tax revenues as a substitute for "public use" in eminent domain.  This enables towns to take private property from homeowners and small businesses to give the property to large corporations, such as large retail "box" stores like Home Depot.  This sparked a public outrage and several state courts (e.g., Michigan and Ohio) have required public use, as have several state legislators.

In the decision of ''Kelo v. New London'' (2005), the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to include "public purpose" such as increased tax revenues as a substitute for "public use" in eminent domain.  This enables towns to take private property from homeowners and small businesses to give the property to large corporations, such as large retail "box" stores like Home Depot.  This sparked a public outrage and several state courts (e.g., Michigan and Ohio) have required public use, as have several state legislators.

In 2006, on the one-year anniversary of the Kelo decision, President [[George W. Bush]] issued an [[executive order]] that would limit eminent domain takings to those that would directly benefit the public, and not merely for the benefit of private parties.

In 2006, on the one-year anniversary of the ''Kelo'' decision, President [[George W. Bush]] issued an [[executive order]] that would limit eminent domain takings to those that would directly benefit the public, and not merely for the benefit of private parties.

The term "eminent domain" was first coined by [[Hugo Grotius]] in 1625.  [Note:  in a mistake in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it says the term originated in 1783.]

The term "eminent domain" was first coined by [[Hugo Grotius]] in 1625.  [Note:  in a mistake in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it says the term originated in 1783.]