What does the 4th Amendment guarantee?

The Fourth Amendment guarantees the right to be protected against unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that individuals have a constitutional protection against arbitrary governmental intrusion into their privacy and belongings. It requires law enforcement to have probable cause and, in most cases, a warrant issued by a judge to conduct searches or seize property. This amendment aims to ensure that citizens' privacy is respected and that the government cannot violate that privacy without justified cause. The protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is foundational in maintaining the balance between individual rights and state power, highlighting the importance of due process in safeguarding personal freedoms.