Read Article IX of the United States Bill of Rights:
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
What is the main effect of setting the phrase of certain rights off with commas following the introductory phrase the enumeration of the Constitution?
It emphasizes the rights are what should not be misconstrued.
It emphasizes the rights belong to the people not the Constitution.
It suggests that some rights are more important than others.
I am thinking it is the third one. Any thoughts.
It suggests some rights are more important than others.
The main effect of setting the phrase "of certain rights" off with commas following the introductory phrase "the enumeration in the Constitution" is to suggest that some rights are more important than others.
To reach this conclusion, let's break down the sentence structure. The sentence begins with "The enumeration in the Constitution," which refers to the listing or mentioning of rights in the Constitution. By setting off the phrase "of certain rights" with commas after this introductory phrase, it indicates that these certain rights are being singled out or specifically referred to.
The phrase that follows, "shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people," means that the listing of certain rights in the Constitution should not be interpreted or understood in a way that denies or belittles other rights that are still held by the people. This suggests that there are rights beyond the ones explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
So, by using the commas to isolate and emphasize "certain rights," the sentence implies that there are other rights, not specifically listed, that are also important and should be recognized. Hence, the statement "It suggests that some rights are more important than others" is the accurate description of the main effect of the commas in this context.