Street Law: A Course in Practical Law

Chapter 42: The Right to Privacy

Cases and Resources

Privacy in the Home and at School
Information Gathering and Privacy
Reproductive Rights and Privacy

Olmstead v. United States
Read a summary of the Supreme Court case acknowledging a constitutional right "to be let alone" by the government. From this page, read the full text of the 1928 opinion or link to related resources.

Right of Privacy: An Overview
Browse an overview of the right to privacy and how this right is recognized by courts and legislatures. Explore the links on the right side of the screen to learn more about this area of constitutional law.

Privacy Rights: the Constitution
This article describes the constitutional origins of the right to privacy and how this concept has evolved over the years. Can you think of current controversial issues in which privacy is a main point of debate?

Privacy and Technology
The right to privacy is facing new challenges as developments in technology make it easier for personal information to be accessed by the government and the public. Read this article about privacy and technology.

Chandler v. Miller
This Supreme Court case found mandatory drug testing of candidates for public positions unconstitutional. From this page, read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

New Jersey's Sex Offender Laws
Read about New Jersey's laws requiring sex offenders to register and notify neighbors, youth groups, and day care centers when living in the area.

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Privacy in the Home and at School
Bowers v. Hardwick
Read the 1986 decision upholding a state law forbidding specific types of consensual sex between adults. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Lawrence and Garner v. Texas
This 2003 Supreme Court case found a state law forbidding specific types of consensual sex between same-sex adults to be unconstitutional. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Stanley v. Georgia
Explore a summary of the Supreme Court case described in your text in The Case of Possessing Obscene Materials at Home. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Students’ Rights and Privacy
Learn more about your rights as a student from the ACLU. This site addresses current issues and news as well as long-standing debates over student rights.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
Read the full text of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Now read a summary of the act. What does this act protect?

Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo
Read the Supreme Court case described in your text in The Case of Peer Grading. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

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Information Gathering and Privacy
The Need for Informationv.Privacy
Information is being electronically stored about all of us. There is a struggle between the need for information along with the convenience of new technologies and the need for individual privacy. Take a closer look at some of the current issues surrounding this struggle.

Freedom of Information Act
Read the full text of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). How does the FOIA relate to individual privacy rights?

The Privacy Act of 1974
Explore the full text of the Privacy Act of 1974. How does this law protect individual privacy rights?

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Reproductive Rights and Privacy
Griswold v. Connecticut
Read a summary of the 1965 Supreme Court case striking down a state law prohibiting the possession of birth control by married couples. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Eisenstadt v. Baird
This 1972 Supreme Court case struck down a state law barring the sale of birth control devices to unmarried people. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Roe v. Wade
Read a summary of the 1973 Supreme Court case finding a constitutional right to abortion under certain circumstances. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health
This 1982 Supreme Court case struck down laws interfering with the right to obtain an abortion. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Examine a summary of the 1992 Supreme Court case increasing a state's power to restrict the availability of an abortion. This case is described in your text in The Case of Abortion Law Challenges. From this page, you may also read the full text of the decision, listen to the oral arguments, or browse related resources.

Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood
In this 2007 case, the Supreme Court held that a federal law criminalizing the performance of late-term abortions (also called partial birth abortions) was not unconstitutional. Read the full opinion or a summary of the case here.

National Right to Life
Learn about the pro-life movement by reading articles, finding out about local organizations, and understanding the reasons behind this position.

NARAL: Pro-Choice
Learn about the pro-choice movement by reading articles, finding out about local organizations, and understanding the reasons behind this position.

Abortion Laws of the World
Learn about the abortion laws in countries around the world. Click on the country name and compare the laws to those in the United States and other countries.

Public Agenda
Visit Public Agenda to learn more about controversial issues. From this page on abortion, explore the issues involved in the debate over reproductive rights and abortion.

Political Advocacy Groups: Abortion and Reproduction
To research and learn more about abortion and reproductive issues, use this list of organizations active in policy and laws in this area. Each organization is rated and contains a brief summary of what the organization does. There is a wide range of views represented by these sites, on all sides of the issues.

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