More Essential than Ever: The Fourth Amendment in the Twenty First Century

The Fourth Amendment requires that government respect the right of citizens to be "secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures". Stephen J. Schulhofer, Robert B. McKay Professor of Law at the New York University School of Law, offers a rich account of the history and nuances of Fourth Amendment protections, as he examines such issues as street stops, racial profiling, electronic surveillance, data aggregation, and the demands of national security. The Fourth Amendment explicitly authorizes invasions of privacy--but it requires justification and accountability, requirements that reconcile public safety with liberty. Today, the Fourth Amendment remains more essential than ever.