Final answer:
A court order allowing the search or seizure of an individual or property is known as a search warrant, protected under the Fourth Amendment, which requires probable cause and specific details for issuance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The court order allowing an individual or his property to be searched or seized is called a search warrant. This legal document, signed by a judge, allows police to carry out searches and/or seize persons or property.
It is issued under the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires officials to demonstrate probable cause before being granted such a warrant. The amendment mandates that the warrant must be specific, describing exactly the place to be searched and the items or individuals to be seized.
In situations where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as within someone's home, the need for a search warrant is clear. Still, there are exceptions to the requirement such as when consent is given, in exigent circumstances where evidence might be destroyed, or if illegal items are in plain view of officers. Over time, the Supreme Court has issued rulings that delineate these situations and establish the warrant requirement's scope.