4th Amendment vs. Patriot Act
Mohammad S. Chaudhry
American Government
25-April-2012
Fourth Amendment vs. Patriot Act
“Give me Liberty or give me death” by Patrick Henry
It is dangerous world when you’re not safe in your own home. Thieves and robbers are not the suspects anymore; instead it’s the authorities that take their place in terrorizing your mind and body. The policing authorities have been given a free pass to do as they please to put fear in the nation’s eyes. With the implementation of acts such as the Patriot Act, the due process to investigate an individual was taken out of the question. The right guaranteed by the constitution of America to have proper documentation and proof to investigate any wrong doing, is not practiced anymore. Every citizen has the right to have search and seizures regulated as to give proper checks and balances to the police. However that is not the case in the present United States. The Fourth Amendment in its drafted form, states “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” It was drafted as a reaction to British general warrants, in which the British King gave free hand to British law enforcement official to search virtually any home they liked, at any time they preferred, for any reason or for no reason at all. This was an especially unpopular concept in the colonies. Now looking enactment of the Patriot Act, one should wonder, how is any different than what British king did to the US Colonies? It is agreed that the events of September 11th were a horrific travesty that shall live in our memories forever. They were attacks from an outside enemy; however the consequences have been put on the people of this nation. With the increased
American Government
25-April-2012
Fourth Amendment vs. Patriot Act
“Give me Liberty or give me death” by Patrick Henry
It is dangerous world when you’re not safe in your own home. Thieves and robbers are not the suspects anymore; instead it’s the authorities that take their place in terrorizing your mind and body. The policing authorities have been given a free pass to do as they please to put fear in the nation’s eyes. With the implementation of acts such as the Patriot Act, the due process to investigate an individual was taken out of the question. The right guaranteed by the constitution of America to have proper documentation and proof to investigate any wrong doing, is not practiced anymore. Every citizen has the right to have search and seizures regulated as to give proper checks and balances to the police. However that is not the case in the present United States. The Fourth Amendment in its drafted form, states “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” It was drafted as a reaction to British general warrants, in which the British King gave free hand to British law enforcement official to search virtually any home they liked, at any time they preferred, for any reason or for no reason at all. This was an especially unpopular concept in the colonies. Now looking enactment of the Patriot Act, one should wonder, how is any different than what British king did to the US Colonies? It is agreed that the events of September 11th were a horrific travesty that shall live in our memories forever. They were attacks from an outside enemy; however the consequences have been put on the people of this nation. With the increased
References: http://www.aclu.org/national-security/surveillance-under-usa-patriot-act http://civilliberty.about.com/od/lawenforcementterrorism/p/4th_amendment.htm