The fourth amendment protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures by requiring law enforcement officials to obtain a warrant based on probable cause. This means that before conducting a search or seizure, officials must have a reasonable belief that a crime has been or is being committed, and they must present their evidence to a judge who determines whether or not to issue a warrant. The purpose of this protection is to ensure that individuals' privacy and property rights are respected and that law enforcement does not have unlimited power to invade these rights without sufficient justification.
