Unit 7 Discussion – Admin Law

As outlined in Chapter 7, the Fourth Amendment protects individuals and businesses from unreasonable searches and seizures by requiring the government to demonstrate probable cause and provide a warrant. However, the Supreme Court has recognized an exception for closely regulated businesses, allowing agencies to conduct warrantless inspections. For this week’s discussion, answer the following questions: What are the criteria for determining whether a business qualifies as “closely regulated?” Do you think the exception for warrantless inspections of closely regulated businesses is justified? Why or why not? Provide an example of a business that should be considered closely regulated. How does the governments interest in regulating that business outweigh the business owner’s privacy rights?