What principle lies behind the 9th Amendment, which states that the Bill of Rights is not a complete list of citizens' rights?
(1 point)
Responses
Natural rights exist independently of government.
Natural rights exist independently of government.
All people must be given equal rights under the law.
All people must be given equal rights under the law.
The government must always err on the side of individual rights.
The government must always err on the side of individual rights.
States have the ultimate responsibility of protecting citizens’ rights.
States have the ultimate responsibility of protecting citizens’ rights.
The principle that lies behind the 9th Amendment is that natural rights exist independently of government.
The correct principle that lies behind the 9th Amendment is that natural rights exist independently of government. The 9th Amendment states that the Bill of Rights should not be interpreted to mean that citizens only have the rights specifically listed in the Constitution. It recognizes the existence of additional rights that are not explicitly mentioned, but are nonetheless considered fundamental and inherent to individuals.
To arrive at this answer, one can read and analyze the text of the 9th Amendment, which states: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." This language implies that the Bill of Rights is not an exhaustive list, and that there are other rights which the people possess that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
Additionally, the historical context and intent behind the 9th Amendment reinforces the idea that it was meant to protect natural rights that are not explicitly enumerated. The framers of the Constitution wanted to ensure that future generations would not see the Bill of Rights as a comprehensive list of rights, but rather a safeguard against government infringement on individual liberties.
By understanding the purpose and text of the 9th Amendment, we can conclude that it embodies the principle that natural rights exist independently of government.