Which amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures?

The Fourth Amendment is pivotal in protecting citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This amendment establishes that individuals have a right to privacy in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, which cannot be breached without probable cause and a warrant obtained through a judicial process. This protection aims to prevent arbitrary governmental intrusions and reflects the colonists' experiences with invasive British practices prior to the American Revolution.

The Fourth Amendment requires that any search or seizure conducted by law enforcement must be reasonable, and typically this means that police must obtain a search warrant from a judge or magistrate based on probable cause. This provision thus serves to uphold the principle of personal privacy while balancing the necessity of law enforcement to prevent crime effectively. The other amendments listed do not address search and seizure; instead, they focus on different rights and protections, underscoring the unique role of the Fourth Amendment in safeguarding individuals’ rights against government overreach.