2. This right exists because it was taken as a protection. The American colonists were being invaded by the British Government. The colonists felt that their privacy was being invaded. The British officials were able to conduct searches the homes of private citizens by "writs of assistance". The British did this mainly because it was a way to discover if anyone was in violation of the strict British customs law. Because of this the Founding Fathers saw the threat to individual liberty and privacy. There was a case (Semayne’s Case) in 1603, where it recognized the right of the homeowner to defend his house against unlawful entry
even by the King’s agents. Although it recognized the right, it also recognized the power of the officers to invade the suspects home upon notice to arrest or to execute the King's process.
3. Exercising this right means to be able to live without fear of the government coming into your house and taking what they please. It also means being able to exercise your first amendment right without fear of being taken into custody by the government because of what you have said. Another way to exercise this right, is to be able to take electronic devices on planes.
4. Some limitations on the Fourth Amendment is that it in recent decades, there has been growing concerns regarding crime and public safety in America and because of it growing concerns have forced the Courts in American to balance the privacy rights contained in the Constitution. Since the needs of law-enforcement officers is expanding to investigate and arrest dangerous criminals. As a result of the expanding needs, the Constitution's prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures had to be cut-down a bit. They also had to be fixed to suit the needs of modern law enforcement as to fight against drugs and terrorism. Because of all of this, it is important for the citizens to be familiar with the police's authority to conduct searches, and all of the legal doctrines that limits the authority of the government. The Patriot Act passed by President Bush, basically gets rid of the Fourth Amendment. The Patriot Act enhances surveillance. It allows the government to "the interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications for the production of evidence of: (1)specified chemical weapons or terrorism offenses; and (2) computer fraud and abuse." (http://members.tripod.com/~warrior69/id144.htm) In section 209, it permits the seizure of voice-mail messages under a warrant. In section 106 it "Modifies provisions relating to presidential authority under the International Emergency Powers Act to: (1) authorize the President, when the United States is engaged in armed hostilities or has been attacked by a foreign country or foreign nationals, to confiscate any property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of a foreign person, organization, or country that he determines has planned, authorized, aided, or engaged in such hostilities or attacks(the rights to which shall vest in such agency or person as the President may designate); and (2) provide that, in any judicial review of a determination made under such provisions, if the determination was based on classified information such information may be submitted to the reviewing court ex parte and in camera."(http://members.tripod.com/~warrior69/id144.htm) There is more at that website.
5. All these limitations exists because of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Patriot Act was issued to try to prevent terrorist attacks and to keep the country safe from possible danger.
6. If I had to give up the Fourth Amendment, I would like to be able to take back the things taken from the government if I am proven inoccent. If that is not possible I would like to be able to live a life where the government isnt constantly keeping track of my life.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2239773/Summary-of-the-USA-PATRIOT-ACT
http://www.cdt.org/security/011031summary.shtml
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ056.107.pdf
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/lawenforcementterrorism/p/4th_amendment.htm
http://www.lectlaw.com/def/f081.htm
http://law.jrank.org/pages/2014/Search-Seizure-Fourth-Amendment-origins-text-history.html
http://members.tripod.com/~warrior69/id144.htm
http://www.flexyourrights.org/fourth_amendment_history
http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/11/21_4th.html
