The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. This research guide includes information and resources on search and seizure.Amendment Four to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It protects the American people from unreasonable searches and seizures. It will eliminate loopholes that let the government investigate us and our property without having to get a warrant. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from conducting unreasonable searches and seizures. This Fourth Amendment activity raises the same question as in the landmark Supreme Court case New Jersey v. T.L.O.: Can a school search a student's backpack?