Which of the following is a basic warrant exception to search and seizure?

• A. Consent
• B. Exclusionary rule
• C. Stop-and-frisk
• D. Probable cause

Answer: (A)

Consent works as a basic warrant exception because it allows a search without a warrant when the person with controlling authority freely agrees to it. For the search to be valid, the consent must be voluntary, not coerced, and the scope of the search should match what was granted. The person giving consent must have authority over the area being searched, and they can limit or revoke consent at any time. This differs from the other options: the exclusionary rule is a remedy that suppresses unlawfully obtained evidence, not a way to justify a warrantless search; stop-and-frisk is a separate exception based on reasonable suspicion for a protective frisk, not a general consent-based search; and probable cause is the standard used to obtain a warrant, not an exception to the warrant requirement.