How the Patriot Act continues to play a significant role in limiting individual rights and liberties guaranteed under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. constitution. Available literature demonstrates that “the Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unwarranted search and seizures.” Indeed, the Fourth Amendment not only secures Americans from unreasonable searches and seizures but also protects them against arbitrary arrests undertaken by law enforcement agencies. The amendment is important in protecting citizens’ rights by requiring that a search or seizure is undertaken by a government representative be sensible and reinforced by probable cause. However, as an example, the USA Patriot Act has been accused of threatening the most basic of civil liberties protected by the Constitution by allowing law enforcement officers the latitude to search or seize individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism activities.
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution is a key component of the Bill of Rights that aims to protect individuals from being coerced to become witnesses against themselves in criminal and civil proceedings by invoking the privilege that allows witnesses to decline to respond to questions and/or interrogations where it is felt that such responses may end up incriminating them. This amendment is important in protecting citizens’ rights in terms of shielding them against compelled self-incrimination, providing them with the right to counsel during custodial interrogations, as well as safeguarding the right to silence during arrests and interrogations. However, violations of the amendment have been noted in instances where law enforcement agencies have been accused of forcing Black offenders to respond to criminal accusations on account of color.