THE FOURTH AMENDMENT

The right to make sure that searches and seizures would be conducted only when a judge felt that there was "reasonable cause" to conduct them.

AMENDMENT 4

• Ratified on December 1791
• With the rest of the bill of rights

Why was it added?

The Founding Fathers wanted to protect the rights of individuals and prevent the government from abusing its powers.

In the colonies British officials had the power to enter and search residential homes whenever they wanted because of writs of assistance. In 1761 a young lawyer named James Otis spoke out against these searches: He said, "A man's house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle."