This episode of Crash Course in Government and Politics provides a general overview of the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizures. The police generally need to secure a warrant issued by a judge based on proof of probable cause to search your home, but this isn’t always the case – exceptions exist for exigent circumstances, such as if there is a reasonable concern that there is a crime in progress or that evidence is in danger of being destroyed.  Also discussed are the vehicle exception to a warrant and the limited protections enjoyed by  students.

Produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios: http://youtube.com/pbsdigitalstudios