Warrant (legal)

A warrant is a writ issued by a competent officer of the state directing someone else, ususally another officer, to perform a specific action and affording that person protection from damages if the act is performed. Warrants are typically issued by courts and are directed to the sheriff or a police officer. The warrants issued by a court normally are search warrants, arrest warrants, and execution warrants. A typical arrest warrant in the USA will take the approximate form of:

"This Court orders the Sheriff to find the named person, wherever he may be found, and deliver said person to the custody of the Court."

Warrants are also issued by other government entities. Warrant Officers derive their authority from warrants issued by the government. Legislatures that have power to compel the attendance of members can issue arrest warrants for absent members, as both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives do when a call of the house is ordered. See also: Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution