WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 117

Fourth Amendment Restoration Act

119th Congress Introduced by Andy Biggs

Legislation restricting government surveillance authority and strengthening warrant requirements for searches, balancing privacy rights against national security needs.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 117

Legislative bill overview

HR 117, the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act, aims to strengthen protections against unreasonable searches and seizures by limiting government surveillance authority and requiring stricter warrant procedures. The bill addresses concerns about expansive interpretations of surveillance powers, particularly regarding digital communications and bulk data collection programs.

Why is this important

Fourth Amendment protections form a foundational privacy right in American law, and this bill directly affects how federal agencies can conduct investigations and surveillance operations. The outcome could significantly impact the balance between national security operations and individual privacy rights, affecting millions of Americans' digital communications and personal data.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of surveillance limitations: Disagreement over whether the bill adequately addresses modern surveillance techniques (phone metadata, internet data) versus traditional search/seizure concerns
  • National security trade-offs: Debate between civil libertarians who support stronger privacy protections and security officials who argue certain surveillance tools are necessary for counterterrorism and crime prevention
  • Warrant standard definitions: Questions about what constitutes "reasonable" searches and how high the legal threshold should be for government access to personal data, particularly in emergency situations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.