The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from conducting "unreasonable searches and seizures. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.Amendment Four to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It protects the American people from unreasonable searches and seizures. What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean? A search under Fourth Amendment occurs when a governmental employee or agent of the government violates an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy. These protections are grounded in state law and the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects citizens' privacy. An annotation about the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the Fourth Amendment.