U.S. Constitution · Amendment IV · ratified 1791-12-15

Searches and Seizures

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Also known as: Unreasonable Searches and Seizures Clause · Warrant Clause

Live in the VFA record

Cited in 291 grades this month.

696 public items cite this provision · 291 in October 2026 (last month: 25)

Citations per week, last 12 weeks

The text

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov

SI explainer

An explainer for this provision is in the queue. It appears here once it passes the SI Editorial Standard’s automated checks. The text, founding-era sources and live citations below are complete.

In the founders’ words

“Mr. Gerry said he presumed there was a mistake in the wording of this clause; it ought to be "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable seizures and searches," and therefore moved that amendment.” House of Representatives, House of Representatives, Debate on Amendments, August 17, 1789 (Annals of Congress 1:754) (1789-08-17)
“The right of the people to be secured in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, shall not be violated by warrants issuing without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and not particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” House of Representatives, House of Representatives, Debate on Amendments, August 17, 1789 (Annals of Congress 1:754) (1789-08-17)

Public-domain primary sources, quoted word for word and checked against the linked text.

Leading Supreme Court cases

Weeks v. United States, 232 U.S. 383 (1914)
Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928) · overruled by Katz v. United States (1967)
Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961)
Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965)
Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967)
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968)
United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984)
United States v. Jones, 565 U.S. 400 (2012)
Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014)
Carpenter v. United States, 585 U.S. 296 (2018)
Chatrie v. United States, 609 U.S. ___ (2026)

Cited in the VFA record

“Where this provision is cited”

SI Solutions (10)

grades (291)

S.Con.Res. 37: A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to honor the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham.
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
H.R. 9382: To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to link together applications of family members throughout the NEXUS application process, and for other purposes.
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
H.R. 9342: GPO Modernization Act of 2026
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
H.R. 9310: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2027
2026-10-14 · Grade C (Significant issues)
H.R. 9171: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
H.R. 8665: Allied Defense Sales Act
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
H.R. 7972: Taxpayer Workforce Modernization Act
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
S. 5200: Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
H.R. 9918: Enhancing K–12 Cybersecurity Act
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
H.R. 10334: EFIN Verification Act of 2026
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
Executive Order 14399: Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections
2026-10-14 · Grade F (Direct violation)
Executive Order 14398: Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
Executive Order 14395: Establishing the Task Force To Eliminate Fraud
2026-10-14 · Grade C (Significant issues)
Executive Order 14391: Adjusting Certain Delegations Under the Defense Production Act
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
Executive Order 14394: Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
Executive Order 14390: Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
Executive Order 14387: Promoting the National Defense by Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Elemental Phosphorus and Glyphosate- Based Herbicides
2026-10-14 · Grade C (Significant issues)
Executive Order 14406: Restoring Integrity to America's Financial System
2026-10-14 · Grade C (Significant issues)
Executive Order 14413: Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
Executive Order 14411: Strengthening Customs Enforcement
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
Executive Order 14415: Securing America's Defense Supply Chains and Ensuring Domestic Acquisition of Critical Materials
2026-10-14 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
Executive Order 14414: Advancing Regenerative Agriculture and Strengthening American Farm Resilience
2026-10-14 · Grade A (Constitutional)
Executive Order 14431: Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program
2026-10-13 · Grade B (Mostly sound)
H.R. 9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
2026-10-13 · Grade A (Constitutional)
H.R. 277: Matthew Lawrence Perna Act of 2025
2026-10-13 · Grade B (Mostly sound)

Showing the 25 most recent. All 291: JSON.

roll-call votes (395)

Senate roll call 253 (2026): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed on H.R. 7008
2026-09-30 · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected · official record
Senate roll call 254 (2026): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed on H.R. 9340
2026-09-30 · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected · official record
Senate roll call 252 (2026): On the Motion to Discharge on S.Res. 852
2026-09-29 · Motion to Discharge Rejected · official record
Senate roll call 244 (2026): On the Concurrent Resolution on H.Con.Res. 89
2026-09-24 · Concurrent Resolution Rejected · official record
House roll call 309 (2026): On Passage on H R 9576
2026-09-16 · Passed · official record
House roll call 310 (2026): On Passage on H R 10326
2026-09-16 · Passed · official record
House roll call 312 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H R 9340
2026-09-16 · Passed · official record
House roll call 313 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H R 9497
2026-09-16 · Passed · official record
House roll call 308 (2026): On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments on H R 5334
2026-09-16 · Passed · official record
Senate roll call 234 (2026): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed on H.R. 3633
2026-09-15 · Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected · official record
House roll call 299 (2026): On Ordering the Previous Question on H RES 1530
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 300 (2026): On Agreeing to the Resolution on H RES 1530
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 301 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H R 2978
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 302 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H R 8278
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 303 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H R 4646
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 304 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass on H R 2140
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 306 (2026): On Passage on H J RES 210
2026-09-15 · Passed · official record
House roll call 296 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H R 4219
2026-09-14 · Passed · official record
House roll call 294 (2026): On Passage on H R 1501
2026-09-02 · Passed · official record
House roll call 293 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass on H J RES 1
2026-09-02 · Failed · official record
House roll call 287 (2026): On Ordering the Previous Question on H RES 1499
2026-09-01 · Passed · official record
House roll call 288 (2026): On Agreeing to the Resolution on H RES 1499
2026-09-01 · Passed · official record
House roll call 290 (2026): On Motion to Recommit on H R 9436
2026-09-01 · Failed · official record
House roll call 291 (2026): On Passage on H R 9436
2026-09-01 · Passed · official record
House roll call 292 (2026): On Agreeing to the Resolution on H RES 1498
2026-09-01 · Passed · official record

Showing the 25 most recent. All 395: JSON.

Roll-call votes are listed when the measure voted on has a current Constitution Index grade citing this provision. Counts include only published items.

Cite this page

Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Amendment IV, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/amendment-4

Data: this provision as JSON.