The Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on December 15, 1791, as part of the Bill of Rights. It states that "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." This means that just because certain rights are not listed in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, it does not mean that they do not exist.
Privacy
The Ninth Amendment has been used to argue for the right to privacy. While the word "privacy" does not appear in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has recognized it as a fundamental right. In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the Court struck down a state law that prohibited the use of contraceptives, citing a "zone of privacy" created by the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments.
Medical Decisions
The Ninth Amendment has also been used to argue for an individual's right to make their own medical decisions. In Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court found that a woman had a right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, based on her right to privacy under the Ninth Amendment.
Same-Sex Marriage
The Ninth Amendment has been invoked in arguments for same-sex marriage. In Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), the Supreme Court found that the right to marry is a fundamental right under the Fourteenth Amendment, and that the Ninth Amendment guarantees that there are rights that are not specifically listed in the Constitution.
Property Rights
The Ninth Amendment has been used to argue for property rights. In United States v. Carolene Products Co. (1938), the Supreme Court found that the government may not infringe upon certain "discrete and insular" minority rights, which could include property rights that are not specifically listed in the Constitution.
Religious Freedom
The Ninth Amendment has been cited in arguments for religious freedom. In Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), the Supreme Court found that the Amish had a right to educate their children in their own way, based on the parents' religious beliefs, even though this right was not specifically listed in the Constitution.
Conclusion
The Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution has been used to argue for a variety of rights that are not specifically listed in the Constitution or Bill of Rights. These include the right to privacy, medical decisions, same-sex marriage, property rights, and religious freedom. The Ninth Amendment has been interpreted to mean that just because certain rights are not listed in the Constitution, it does not mean that they do not exist. It is an important part of the Bill of Rights that protects the rights of individuals from government intrusion.