Fourth Amendment

We the People do ordain and establish this US Constitution

Standards of review

Rational basis review Intermediate scrutiny Strict scrutiny

Other legal theories

Substantive due process State action doctrine

Amendments

I - II - III - IV - V - XIV

Defining moments in law

U.S. v. Virginia Roe v. Wade Texas v. Johnson Pentagon Papers Vashti McCollum

Interpretation

Originalism Purposive Responsive Textualism

Issues

Civil rights Bill of Rights (United States) Gay rights Commerce rights Free speech v - t - e

On the surface the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution seems pretty clear, but when it comes down to it, it can be quite complicated. The text is pretty short:

“”The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Basically if the police are investigating a person they have to obtain a document from a judge that allows them to burst into that person's private property and search through it for evidence (this generally includes wiretaps). Likewise if the police want to arrest you they have to get permission first. In order to obtain this document the investigators have to convince a judge that there is "probable cause" that a crime has been committed or that evidence of said crime exists. If somebody is arrested and put on trial on the basis of evidence illegally obtained such evidence must be excluded from the trial.

Ifs ands or buts

Police and criminal procedure is rarely as cut and dry as the Bill of Rights would seem to suggest; there are many exceptions to the need for warrants. These include:

• If the officer actually sees you committing a crime he or she may arrest you.
• If you left evidence somewhere outside of your property (including the trash).
• If you invited the officers in and let them look around.
• Possible life or death situations (commonly known as "exigent circumstances"), e.g. officers witnessing gunshots emanating from a building can enter without a search warrant.
• If you are in the custody of the U.S. Prison Service, the fact that you are in custody is reasonable enough for any search and seizure applied against you.
• If you are a government employee in certain fields, you may be subject to "suspicion-less" random drug testing.
• If you are a public school student involved in competitive extracurricular activities, you may be subject to "suspicion-less" random drug testing.

The case law on what does, and doesn't, qualify as "probable cause" could fill several volumes.

References

U.S. Constitution articles on RationalWiki

v - t - e

Preamble • Articles: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

Bill of Rights: I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X - Further amendments: XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII

Pending: Congressional Apportionment - Titles of Nobility - Corwin - Child Labor - Disputed: Equal Rights - Failed: - D.C. Voting Rights

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Related topics

Interpretation: Originalism - Textualism - Responsive interpretation • Modes of review: Rational basis - Intermediate scrutiny - Strict scrutiny
Other stuff: Articles of Confederation - Establishment Clause - Gun control