Fourth Amendment — Overview of Fourth Amendment, Searches and Seizures
Fourth Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amdt4.1 Overview of Fourth Amendment, Searches and Seizures
Informed by common law practices, the Fourth Amendment1 protects the “full enjoyment of the rights of personal security, personal liberty, and private property”2 by prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures. In particular, the Fourth Amendment provides that warrants must be supported by probable cause and that the person to be seized, the place to be searched, and the evidence to be sought is specified in the warrant. The Supreme Court, however, has interpreted the Fourth Amendment to allow exceptions to the warrant requirement.
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