Law Enforcement, Searches, Seizures, and the Right to Privacy

In 1789 James Madison proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution before the United States Congress. These first ten amendments became law in 1791 when they were ratified by ¾ votes. They are now known as the Bill of Rights. These basic freedoms apply to all individuals in the United States regardless of citizenship. One of the key components of the Bill of Rights is the Fourth Amendment which provides the freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. One instrument we have in the United States to ensure our basic Fourth Amendment right is known as the exclusionary rule.

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