What does the Fourth Amendment primarily protect against?

The Fourth Amendment primarily protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures. This constitutional provision is a critical component of the Bill of Rights, ensuring that citizens have the right to privacy in their persons, houses, papers, and effects. It requires law enforcement to have probable cause and, in most cases, a warrant to conduct searches or seize property. This protection is fundamental in safeguarding personal liberty and preventing arbitrary government interference.

In contrast, the other options relate to separate protections under different amendments. Self-incrimination is protected by the Fifth Amendment, excessive bail is addressed under the Eighth Amendment, and the right to legal counsel is secured by the Sixth Amendment. Each of these rights serves to protect individuals in different aspects of the legal process, but it is the Fourth Amendment that specifically focuses on privacy and the limits on governmental power regarding searches and seizures.