Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution is specifically designed to protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This amendment establishes the need for law enforcement to have probable cause and, in many cases, a warrant before engaging in searches of personal property or seizing individuals or their belongings.

The text of the Fourth Amendment emphasizes the importance of privacy and the need to be free from arbitrary governmental interference. It safeguards citizens' rights, ensuring that any search or seizure must be warranted by a clear legal basis, thereby upholding the principles of due process and individual liberty.

In contrast, the other amendments listed focus on different rights and protections. The First Amendment deals with freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition; the Eighth Amendment addresses issues related to excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment; and the Tenth Amendment relates to the powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states. Each of these amendments serves its distinct purpose, highlighting the importance of the Fourth Amendment in the context of personal privacy and protection against government overreach.