SkillsUSA Criminal Justice Practice Test 2025 - Free Criminal Justice Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the one that addresses search and seizure. This amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, ensuring that law enforcement must have probable cause and, in most cases, a warrant issued by a judge in order to conduct a search of a person’s property or seize their belongings. This is a fundamental aspect of the right to privacy and helps to prevent arbitrary governmental intrusions into the lives of individuals.

In contrast, the First Amendment focuses on protecting freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly; the Second Amendment pertains to the right to bear arms; and the Eighth Amendment addresses issues such as excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment. Each of these amendments serves a different purpose in safeguarding the rights of individuals under U.S. law, but it is the Fourth Amendment that specifically applies to search and seizure scenarios.