6.4 DUE PROCESS IN THE WORKPLACE
The legal principle of due process can be traced to the Magna Carta's doctrine of per legem terrae ("by the law of the land"), which established limitations of the authority of the king. The essential idea was that while the barons recog¬nized the legitimate authority of the king, they demanded that his authority be limited. Due process can be defined as limitations that offer protection against arbitrary uses of authority. This concept is seen in such modern legal guarantees as the right to a trial by jury, legal representation, the Miranda rights to remain silent, and so forth. The philosophical idea that underlies this legal concept is that even legitimate authority cannot be used in just any manner. While courts, legislatures, and police have legitimate authority over citizens, that authority can only be exercised in certain sorts of ways. Courts cannot decide guilt by flipping a coin, a legislature cannot pass legislation without voting, and the police cannot obtain confessions by torture or coercion.