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4th Amendment | What is the Fourth Amendment?

The Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights protects citizens from unlawful search and seizure.

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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.

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Rights of the Accused Amendment Resources

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Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

The Supreme Court case of Mapp v. Ohio examines incorporation of the Fourth Amendment and the legality of searches and seizures.

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Pottawatomie v. Earls (2002)

The Supreme Court case of Pottawatomie v. Earls explores Fourth Amendment protections and "reasonable" searches when in schools.

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New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)

The Supreme Court held that while the search warrant requirement does not apply to public school officials, teachers and administrators are bound by the Fourth Amendment’s essential requirement that searches be “reasonable.”

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The Fourth Amendment | BRI’s Homework Help Series

What prevents the police from randomly searching our homes and possessions whenever they want? The Founders created the Fourth Amendment to protect the individual right to private property. Learn more about its origins and some landmark Supreme Court cases in our latest Homework Help video.

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