The Fourth Amendment: Origins and Original Meaning 602 - 1791

The Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure provides the bulwark for police regulation and many other government functions in the United States. One of the most controversial rights in the Bill of Rights, this amendment is also among the most frequently adjudicated provisions of constitutional law. Yet its meaning has remained deeply contested, and the story of its origins is largely unknown. This book tells the full story of the Fourth Amendment's complex lineage, including its intellectual roots in England. This book has particular relevance today given the long list of controversial new surveillance measures undertaken by the government in recent years, including the USA Patriot Act and the NSA wiretapping program. The preface has been written by privacy expert Daniel Solove.