American citizens and residents are protected by the United States Constitution. One of the rights included in the constitution is the prohibition against unlawful searches and seizures by law enforcement officials. The prohibition is contained in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, as part of the "Bill of Rights." The prohibition requires law enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant to search you or your property, unless an "exigency" or "emergency" exists that requires an immediate search. For example, a search warrant is not needed to prevent physical harm. You can verify the authenticity of a warrant in a few ways.