What does the "Power of Escheat" allow a government to do?

The concept of "Power of Escheat" allows a government to take ownership of property when an individual dies intestate (without a will) and without any heirs. This means that if there are no relatives or designated beneficiaries to inherit the property, it reverts to the state. While the option regarding unpaid taxes is related to the broader powers of the government, the specific context of escheat applies primarily to the situation of abandoned or unclaimed property, rather than solely focusing on the property being taken for taxation purposes.

In terms of other options, the transfer of property to the highest bidder relates to a process of auctioning, which is not applicable in this context. Confiscating property for public construction usually involves different legal mechanisms, like eminent domain, rather than escheat. The idea of selling property without due process also does not align with the escheat doctrine since the process requires certain legal frameworks to ascertain that the property is truly unclaimed and there are no existing heirs.

Overall, the power of escheat ensures that property does not remain in limbo and allows the government to manage such properties appropriately.