What does "habeas corpus" secure for individuals?

The term "habeas corpus" is a fundamental legal principle that secures protection against unlawful detention. It is a Latin phrase meaning "you shall have the body," and it allows individuals to challenge the legality of their detention or imprisonment. This legal remedy ensures that a person cannot be held without just cause and has the right to present their case before a court.

Habeas corpus is a critical component of individual rights and liberties, as it prevents arbitrary detention and safeguards against abuses of power by the state. When someone invokes this right, it prompts the court to review the validity of the detention and compel the detaining authority to justify the reasons for keeping the individual in custody.

In the context of the other choices, while the right to vote, access to legal representation, and the right to a speedy trial are also important legal protections, they do not specifically pertain to the immediate protection against unlawful detention that habeas corpus addresses. This makes the second option the correct representation of what habeas corpus secures for individuals.