Which amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure?

The Fourth Amendment is crucial in protecting individual rights against unreasonable search and seizure. It establishes that citizens have a right to privacy and security in their persons, houses, papers, and effects. This amendment ensures that law enforcement officials cannot conduct searches or seize property without a valid warrant founded on probable cause. The framers of the Constitution included this protection in response to abuses such as the writs of assistance, which allowed for arbitrary searches without warrant or probable cause. Thus, the Fourth Amendment lays the groundwork for lawful procedures that protect individuals from government overreach, emphasizing the importance of maintaining personal privacy and requiring judicial oversight in investigations and evidence collection.