Which amendment protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizure?

The Fourth Amendment is primarily responsible for protecting individuals from unreasonable search and seizure. This amendment requires law enforcement to have probable cause and, in most cases, a warrant issued by a judge to conduct searches of private property. It ensures that individuals have a right to privacy and establishes a threshold to prevent arbitrary governmental intrusions into personal and private affairs. The underlying principle is to safeguard citizens against abuses of power by the state, thereby supporting the notion of personal security.

Other amendments, while significant in their own rights, serve different purposes. The First Amendment pertains to freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. The Fifth Amendment addresses due process, protection against self-incrimination, and double jeopardy, whereas the Sixth Amendment guarantees rights related to criminal prosecutions, such as the right to a fair trial and legal counsel. None of these directly concern the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, reinforcing the specificity and importance of the Fourth Amendment in maintaining individual privacy rights.