The Fourth Amendment: Search and Seizure

Mission Brief #76

🎯 Your mission

Learn how the rule got made — and who it serves.

⚡ The twist

Not voting is also a vote.

Read · 1 of 2

The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This means that law enforcement must have a warrant, which is a legal document, to search someone's property or take their belongings.

Read · 2 of 2

The purpose of this amendment is to safeguard individuals' privacy and ensure that the government respects personal space. It is an essential part of protecting our rights as citizens.

Key facts

Remember these

1The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches.
2Law enforcement needs a warrant to conduct a search.
3It helps ensure citizens' privacy rights.

Timeline

When it happened

1791
The Fourth Amendment is ratified
1914
Weeks v. United States bars illegally seized evidence in federal courts
1961
Mapp v. Ohio extends that rule to the states
2014
Riley v. California requires a warrant to search a cell phone

Then & Now

🏛️ The rule you'll meet today is still on the books — sort of.

Mind = blown

Benjamin Franklin, 81, was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention.

Question 1 of 2

What does the Fourth Amendment protect citizens from?

How sure?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

What is required for law enforcement to search a person's property?

How sure?😐 maybe

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You got 0 of 2 right.

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