What does the Fifth Amendment protect against?

The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution is designed to provide several protections for individuals involved in the legal system, particularly in relation to criminal proceedings. Among these protections is the prohibition against double jeopardy, which means that an individual cannot be tried for the same offense more than once after either being acquitted or convicted. This principle ensures that individuals have finality in legal judgments and protects them from the harassment of multiple prosecutions for the same crime.

Additionally, the Fifth Amendment includes the right against self-incrimination, allowing individuals to refuse to testify against themselves in criminal cases. This right is crucial as it protects individuals from being forced to confess or provide evidence that may lead to their own conviction, preserving the integrity of the legal process and the rights of the accused.

While the other options relate to different rights and protections provided by other amendments, they do not fall under the specific protections granted by the Fifth Amendment. For example, the right against excessive bail is addressed in the Eighth Amendment, unreasonable searches are covered by the Fourth Amendment, and unauthorized surveillance pertains to privacy rights, often analyzed under the Fourth Amendment as well. Thus, the protections against double jeopardy and self-incrimination specifically define the central purpose of the Fifth Amendment.