1. Protecting Constitutional Rights
The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.
The Third and Fourth Amendments guard the rights to security of home and person.
The Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution as protecting a right to privacy.
The Constitution’s guarantees of due process require that government act in accordance with fair and public laws in whatever it does.

2. Limits on Government

3. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

4. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Second Amendment, one of most heavily debated amendments today
Included to protect rights of states to form militias
Fear of Federal standing army
— Some believe this protects individual right to own all kinds of firearms
— Others believe amendment only protects rights of states to form militias

5. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Only one major Supreme Court ruling
1939, United States v. Miller: Court upheld law placing restrictions on possession of some types of guns often used by criminals
Said amendment protected only guns that might be used by people in militia
Court has not addressed issue of gun control since Miller decision
— Some lower courts have made decisions on gun control laws
— Others believe amendment only protects rights of states to form militias

6. Security of Home and Person
The Third Amendment
British military sometimes quartered in colonists’ homes
Very occasionally paid
Complaint listed in Declaration of Independence
Third Amendment forbids quartering during times of peace without consent of owner

7. Security of Home and Person
During war, troops can only occupy private houses as prescribed by law
Military forces must use due process to take over home.
Largely forgotten
Quartering has never been the subject of a Supreme Court case.

8. 4th Amendment Fourth Amendment resulted from British use of writs
of assistance
Writ gave British authorities wide power to search
private homes, businesses
Searched without probable cause a strong likelihood they would find evidence of a crime

9. 4th Amendment forbids “unreasonable searches and seizures”
Fourth Amendment written to protect against
abuse of search and seizure
Main guarantee of personal security from government powers
forbids “unreasonable searches and
seizures”

10. 4th Amendment Sets terms for issuing search warrant
Document giving police legal authority to search
private property
Prove to a judge there is probable cause for a search
Search warrants are issued by the appropriate judge with jurisdiction

11. 4th Amendment Warrant must describe what will be searched, seized
Emergency entrance without warrant, must follow strict rules
Only search for evidence directly related to crime being investigated
May seize other evidence only if it is in “plain view”

12. 4th Amendment
1987, Arizona v. Hicks: “plain view” did not extend to serial numbers
1914, Weeks v. United States: evidence obtained illegally may not be used against person in court; known as exclusionary rule

13. 4th Amendment
Fourth Amendment does not always require police to obtain warrant
Person’s right to be free does not reach outdoors
Police can search through person’s trash without warrant

14. 4th Amendment Legally speaking, stopping a person considered a seizure
Pedestrians
Legally speaking, stopping a person considered a seizure
Police can stop someone on basis of reasonable suspicion
May search person if there is concern for safety of police officer or others
To arrest requires probable cause

15. 4th Amendment
Cars
Search cars without warrant under some circumstances
Can stop drivers observed committing traffic violations
May seize evidence in plain view
Search any place within reach or control of vehicle’s occupants
Search auto’s trunk without warrant case by case

16. 4th Amendment Fourth Amendment protects person’s “papers”
Courts have had to decide if this applies to new means of communication—telegraph, telephone, Internet
Meta Data (data about data) collection by government not allowed
Meta Data held by providers
Author, dates, files size

17. 4th Amendment
1928, Olmstead v. United States: wiretapping not illegal search
1967, Katz v. United States: Court reversed self; wiretapping now requires probable cause warrant

18. 4th Amendment
Post-9/11, USA PATRIOT Act law enforcement more freedom to search telephone, communications, business, medical, library records
2007: parts of act struck down; gave officials too much power to search phone, Internet records without court oversight

19. 4th Amendment Testing for Drugs
Private employers have wide freedom to test their workers to discourage illegal drug use
Governments face limits in ability to test their workers
Can test employees whose jobs may affect public safety—pilots, drivers

20. 4th Amendment
Testing for Drugs
Supreme Court: public school students have fewer Fourth Amendment rights than general population
Need to ensure safe learning environment can override privacy concerns

21. 4th Amendment
School officials may search for drugs, weapons, randomly test student athletes for drugs
Students participating in extracurricular activities be tested for drugs

22. The Right to Privacy Implied
Fourth Amendment implies people can expect not to have their privacy violated by unreasonable searches (Reasonable expectation of privacy)
Privacy part of concept of liberty guaranteed by due process clauses of Fifth, Fourteenth Amendments

23. The Right to Privacy Zones of Privacy
Court embraced right to privacy, stating several amendments create “zones of privacy,”
right of married couples to make decisions about
birth control
Spouse not testifying against spouse

24. The Right to Privacy
1973, Roe v. Wade: citing right to privacy, Court held state law could not deny woman right to abortion in first three months of pregnancy

25. Due Process of Law
The concept of due process is key to the protections provided by the Bill of Rights.
Requires that government act fairly and reasonably in accordance with established laws.
Due process limits government’s police power

26. Due Process of Law
Procedural due process: certain procedures must be followed before punishing person
Miranda rights
Arraignment
Trial by a Jury of Peers

27. Due Process of Law Denial of Due Process v Public Safety
Getting drunk drivers off road strong enough reason to deny due process
1979, Mackey v. Montrym: state can take away driver’s license if driver refused breath test; penalizing without finding guilty

28. Due Process of Law
Substantive due process: concerns whether laws themselves are fair and just
People have rights that cannot be taken away, even by laws passed properly