"The Fourth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution"
The key aspect of the Fourth Amendment is based on protecting the citizens against unreasonable search and seizures. The main point is based on protecting the rights to privacy and allowing citizens to enjoy the freedom against the governmental intrusions (Galiano, 2011). In general, the Fourth Amendment focuses on the government activities, the probable cause for search and seizure and how to address the violation of the Fourth Amendment.
The Fourth Amendment specifically protects the physical apprehension and law enforcement officers should follow the standard of reasonableness in conducting searches in houses, business, homes and other private areas. The Fourth Amendment ensures that individuals are prevented from unlawful seizure (Galiano, 2011). The important requirement in searches and seizures is reasonableness and it is used as the ultimate measure of search. The court is responsible in balancing the intrusion on right and privacy and the justification in search and seizure.
A police officer may perform a pat down in situation where a person is bringing a domestic disturbance in public. In this case, the reason for pat down is valid in that the police should find out the root cause of disturbance and whether there is a weapon and in the process, he or she will prevent harm which the person may cause to the public (Galiano, 2011). In addition, a police office may pat down in situation where an individual is loitering towards a bank. In this suspicious circumstance, a police office may want to know the reason as to why the person is loitering around as this indicates that the person may commit a crime in the bank (Galiano, 2011). Both situations are valid since the purpose of scrutinizing is to maintain security.
Reference
Galiano, D. (2011). The Fourth Amendment: Unreasonable search and seizure. New York: Rosen Central.