However checks and balances can be ineffective for example after 9/11 President Bush introduced a bill which was passed into an Act in one hour. The Patriot Act allowed the US government to sneak and peck into the lives of the American people and therefore go entrench on the rights of the people set out in the fourth amendment. This shows that the checks and balances and the separation of powers are ineffective in protecting the rights of the individuals of the American people. .
The constitution contains the Bill of Rights which was added to make sure that even if one branch of government becomes too powerful, there would be some rights not entrenched. It covered the important freedoms such as free speech, demonstrate and religion. The Bill of Rights has been proved effective as the Supreme Court has been able to use it to interpret what today's rights mean, such as the second amendment the right to bear arms was challenged by the Supreme Court as in 2008 DC vs. Heller found a ban on hand guns were unconstitutional and therefore this right was protected. These examples have shown that the bill of rights have been able to limit the power of the federal government. Also the 14th amendment has proved effective in protecting the rights of individuals for example Roe vs. Wade 1973 case where the court's judgement was based on the decision that a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy came under the freedom of personal choice in family matters as protected by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
However in many citizens views the Bill of rights has failed to protect the rights of the American people. Such as the fourth amendment where the patriot act of 2001 was passed allowing the government has encroach more into the lives of private citizens through the Patriot Act. The government argues that this is necessary for security but critics feel it threatens the right of privacy. It allows the government to search homes without owners' knowledge, to spy on emails, tap phones and monitor internet activities.