United States Constitution 9th Amendment
Amendment IX (1791)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution, often considered one of the more enigmatic provisions, serves as a critical reminder of the expansive nature of individual rights. Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, the amendment emphasizes that the enumeration of certain rights within the Constitution does not disparage or deny other rights retained by the people. Rather than establishing specific rights, the Ninth Amendment's significance lies in safeguarding the principle that the Constitution should not be interpreted to negate the existence of unenumerated rights belonging to the people. This provision thus acts as a constitutional bulwark, underscoring the idea that the rights of individuals extend far beyond those explicitly listed in the document.