What does the 4th Amendment protect against?

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that law enforcement authorities must have probable cause and often must obtain a warrant before searching an individual's property or seizing their belongings. The purpose of this amendment is to uphold a person's right to privacy and to ensure that governmental powers are not abused in the pursuit of justice. By requiring probable cause and warrants, the Fourth Amendment seeks to balance the need for law enforcement to maintain order with the individual's right to personal security and privacy.

The other choices address different protections offered by other amendments. For instance, the prohibition against excessive bail and fines is covered by the Eighth Amendment, while protections against double jeopardy and self-incrimination are found in the Fifth Amendment. Each of these amendments serves to safeguard various rights of individuals within the legal system, but the specific focus of the Fourth Amendment is on reasonable search and seizure.