The Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment circa 1789...
The Fourth Amendment circa 2012...
The Fourth Amendment 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.”
Further explore the meaning behind the Fourth Amendment through the Annenberg Guide to the United States Constitution.
The case of United States v. Jones asks whether the warrantless use of a tracking device on an individual’s vehicle, utilized to monitor their movements on public streets, violates our Fourth Amendment rights. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the installation of a GPS tracking device on Jones' vehicle, without a warrant, constituted an unlawful search under the Fourth Amendment. Additionally, the Court held that we have a reasonable expectation of privacy as we move about on public thoroughfares and emphasized that the Fourth Amendment protects us against trespass onto our personal property.
Learn more about United States v. Jones through the Oyez case page.