Which legal power permits the State to take property for a public benefit?

The correct choice is condemnation, which refers to the legal power that allows the state to take private property for public use, provided that the owner is compensated. This process is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which includes the "Takings Clause" that ensures property owners are fairly compensated when their property is taken for public benefit, such as constructing roads, schools, or other infrastructure projects.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different legal mechanisms that do not pertain to the state taking property for public use. Foreclosure generally involves a lender taking property due to the borrower's failure to make mortgage payments. A tax lien arises when a property owner fails to pay taxes, allowing the government to claim a legal right to the property until those taxes are paid. Escheat refers to the process by which property reverts to the state when an individual dies without a will and without heirs, and it does not involve public benefit or the active taking of property. Thus, condemnation is specifically the power that allows for state acquisition of property for the greater good, confirming its role in public benefit initiatives.