The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. The Fourth Amendment prohibits the United States government from conducting "unreasonable searches and seizures.In general, most warrantless searches of private premises are prohibited under the Fourth Amendment, unless a specific exception applies. In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court usually considers Fourth Amendment cases starting with a basic question, "Was there a search or a seizure? Are you able to say, "Hey, you violated my Fourth Amendment rights, so you can't arrest me" to the cop on the street right after he finds drugs? However, there are several exceptions to the warrant requirement that allow the government to perform warrantless arrests and searches. Mapp was arrested for possessing the pictures, and was convicted in an Ohio court. Amendment Four to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It protects the American people from unreasonable searches and seizures.