What does the 4th Amendment protect against?

The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution is primarily concerned with protecting individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This means that law enforcement officials are required to have probable cause and, in most cases, a warrant obtained from a judge before conducting searches of private property or seizing personal belongings. The underlying principle is to ensure a person's right to privacy and to safeguard against arbitrary actions by the state that could infringe upon personal freedoms.

The other options address different protections under the Constitution. The protection against self-incrimination is covered under the 5th Amendment, while the right to a speedy trial and the right to a trial by jury are addressed in the 6th Amendment and the 7th Amendment, respectively. Therefore, the focus of the 4th Amendment is specifically on the limits placed on governmental authority regarding searches and the seizure of individuals or their property.