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Rights Protected

A right to privacy extends to the following areas:

• marriage
• procreation
• contraception
• abortion
• motherhood
• child rearing
• education
• familial relationships
• medical decisions and treatment
• financial information
• politics
• communications
• personal records and documents
• first-class mail

The breadth of the privacy right may be different depending on the area. In some cases, the government has a compelling interest in a matter generally considered private. For example, the IRS is permitted to require and examine an individual's financial information for the purpose of tax returns. States may make and maintain birth and death records.