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. That's why the Fourth Amendment protects "persons" from unreasonable searches and seizures. However, there are several exceptions to the warrant requirement that allow the government to perform warrantless arrests and searches. Simply stated, the Fourth Amendment is a hard check on police power. Texas Young Lawyers Association. Search and Seizure: Exploring the Fourth Amendment Study Guide. Recently, however, Fourth Amendment law's objective façade has begun to crack. In a series of cases, the Supreme Court has introduced subjective tests.