Ninth Amendment

Quick Definition: Ninth Amendment

“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

Key points

• Affirms that listed rights are not exhaustive; people hold other rights beyond those in the Constitution.
• Used to support recognition of unenumerated rights, such as privacy (e.g., Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965).
• Not frequently the sole basis for Supreme Court decisions, but reinforces broad interpretations of liberty.

FAQ

• What does “retained by the people” mean? It refers to rights people have even if not specifically listed in the Constitution.
• Is this amendment enforceable in court? Rarely as a standalone basis, but it supports arguments for implied rights.
• How does this relate to the right to privacy? Courts have cited it alongside other amendments to justify rights not explicitly mentioned.