Reference no: EM133751384
Among the most important of all individual rights is to be found in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (U.S. Const. amend. IV)
Let's consider a hypothetical situation to test the views of democracy and individual rights, particularly in light of the Fourth Amendment.
Scenario:
Assume that a lone scientist, working with the help of artificial intelligence, has developed a fusion-based energy source that will power the entire planet. The scientist is willing to share the formula for this invention in exchange for $10 trillion. The governments of the world are either unable or unwilling to pay this enormous sum, and even the wealthiest individuals, pooling their resources, cannot afford it either.
The scientist has saved the formula on an encrypted hard drive in a room with state-of-the-art security. Government operatives could simply break into the room, take the hard drive, and attempt to break the code. However, before doing so, they would need approval from the President of the United States.
Question:
Assume you are the president of the United States. You have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. Will you approve the operation to get the formula? Why or why not? On what Constitutional grounds would you base your decision?