The Fourth Amendment is a part of the United States Constitution that protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures conducted by government officials, including law enforcement officers. In simpler terms, it means that individuals have the right to be secure in their persons, homes, and belongings, and that searches and seizures should only happen when there is a valid warrant or a justifiable reason. This amendment sets a balance between the government’s authority to investigate and an individual’s right to privacy, aiming to prevent arbitrary intrusion into people’s lives. It ensures that officers can’t simply search or seize someone’s property without a proper reason or proper authorization from the court.