What does the Fourth Amendment specifically protect citizens from?

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This amendment establishes a fundamental right to privacy, mandating that any search or seizure by law enforcement must be reasonable and typically requires a warrant supported by probable cause. The intent of the amendment is to safeguard individuals' personal privacy and property from arbitrary governmental intrusion, ensuring that citizens have a degree of autonomy and security from unwarranted interference.

While surveillance is a form of government action that can implicate the Fourth Amendment, not all forms of surveillance are categorically prohibited. Instead, the focus is on whether the search or seizure was conducted in a reasonable manner. Legal searches that are executed with a warrant based on probable cause are permitted under the Fourth Amendment. Similarly, the presence of a lawyer during a search does not inherently affect the legality of that search unless it relates to specific legal protections (like attorney-client privilege) in a particular context. Thus, the correct choice emphasizes the core protection afforded by the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable government intrusions.