Which constitutional amendment covers the protection of privacy?

The Fourth Amendment is the correct choice as it specifically addresses the protection of privacy from unwarranted governmental intrusion. This amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, ensuring that individuals have the right to privacy in their persons, homes, papers, and effects. The framers of the Constitution recognized the importance of privacy and personal security, particularly in the context of the historical abuses of power by authorities, which motivated the inclusion of this protection.

In contrast, while the First Amendment does protect freedoms concerning speech, assembly, and religion, it does not directly address privacy. The Second Amendment focuses on the right to bear arms and is also unrelated to privacy concerns. The Eighth Amendment deals with issues related to bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments, which do not pertain to privacy rights. Thus, the Fourth Amendment is fundamentally grounded in the concept of privacy and establishes a critical legal framework for protecting individuals from intrusive governmental actions.