What Is a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy?

The Constitutional principle of due process, which holds that government must interact with citizens according to duly-enacted laws, balances the rights of suspects with public safety. This lesson explores the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it over time.

Objectives

• Students will understand the principle of due process, which holds that the government must interact with all citizens according to the tenets of the law; applying these rules equally among all citizens.
• Students will understand ways the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fourth Amendment.
• Students will evaluate whether the Fourth Amendment is effectively protecting citizens from unreasonable search and seizure.

Student Handouts

• Handout A: Background Essay: How Have the Protections of the Fourth Amendment been Interpreted, Applied, and Enforced?
• Handout B: Attitude Inventory
• Handout C: Interpreting the Fourth Amendment
• Handout D: Should You Expect Privacy?

Teacher Resources

• What Is a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy? Answer Key