Which amendment protects against double jeopardy?

The correct answer is the 5th Amendment, which explicitly includes a protection against double jeopardy. This principle ensures that an individual cannot be tried twice for the same offense after either a conviction or an acquittal. The intent behind this protection is to prevent the government from subjecting a person to multiple prosecutions for the same act, which could lead to unjust harassment or the substantial burden of repeated legal encounters.

In the context of the amendments listed, the 4th Amendment deals primarily with search and seizure protections; the 6th Amendment focuses on the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a fair trial and legal counsel; while the 14th Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. Each of these amendments serves a distinct function in the legal system, but it is the 5th Amendment that specifically addresses the issue of double jeopardy, ensuring a fundamental right that upholds the integrity of the judicial process.