The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution forbids the act of unreasonable searches and seizures As stated in the Fourth Amendment the people have a right to be secure in their persons houses papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures US Constitution Amendment II Amended 1791 Bill of Rights Institute www billofrightsinstitute org founding documents bill of rights Accessed 28 Nov 2017 This right limits the power of the police to seize and search people their property and their homes It requires searches and seizures to be conducted with the authority of a warrant that a magistrate judge or Supreme Court official issues to allow law enforcement to conduct a search of a person location or vehicle for evidence of a crime The Fourth Amendment was created in 1789 by James Madison Congress proposed the amendment to the states on September 28 1789 On March 1 1792 Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson announced the approval of the amendment Today the Fourth Amendment is interpreted as a way to keep the government from collecting or searching a person or their property without a warrant