ABSTRACT
Several constitutional issues in the United States depend upon the standards and opinions of the public: Privacy and free speech are two prime examples. A consensus among the majority of a community is essential in determining whether a police officer has conducted an unreasonable search and seizure. The meaning of privacy is not explicitly defined by the American Constitution. Instead, Supreme Court Justices have constructed the legal meaning of "privacy" through their interpretations of the first, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments. Several Gallup polls have asked the public about their reaction to the conservative Court's decisions in recent abortion cases. Notwithstanding their support for the police and crime control in general, the public cherish their privacy, and are unwilling to allow police officers free reign in order to reduce crime. The courts conclusions in several areas of searches, however, are consistent with the desires of community sentiment.
