Under what circumstances does the Fourth Amendment not apply during a search and seizure?

The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. It primarily applies to actions taken by government officials or agents, such as police officers. When a search is conducted by a private person, the Fourth Amendment does not apply because it is designed to limit governmental powers, not the actions of private individuals.

In this context, a private person can conduct a search without the same legal constraints that would apply if a government official were involved. This means that evidence obtained by a private individual is typically not subject to the exclusionary rule, which would normally prevent illegally obtained evidence from being used in court. This aspect underscores the distinction between government actions and private conduct, clarifying that the constitutional protections of the Fourth Amendment do not extend to searches conducted by private citizens without government involvement.