Many people are unaware of their right to refuse when an officer asks for consent to conduct a search. For
example, people frequently agree when an officer during a traffic stop say, “May I look in the trunk?” In
Schneckloth v. Bustamonte the Supreme Court held that consent must be given voluntarily but refused to
mandate that the individual be made aware of the right to withhold consent. Do you think this decision
effectively balances the rights of the individual against those of the government? Discuss both sides of the
issue.
Some people argue that electronic monitoring by government agencies amounts to “big brother is watching”
and violates our fundamental rights as individuals. Does the Wiretap Act provide sufficient safeguards for
people?