What is the reason for the Ninth Amendment to the US Constitution?

Question

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

Answer 1

it opened up law by precedent, thus could by verdict establish fair laws. sometimes it is said; to establish unwritten laws by Precedent that are accepted by citizens.

Answer 2

The founders were afraid that the enumeration of certain rights would be viewed as exclusionary to others. Some argued that enumerated rights ought not to be included at all, claiming that a people's god-given rights were self-evident to a just government. Finally, they were included and the Ninth was added to ensure that the Bill of Rights was not limited to what was enumerated. Ironically, the Government generally ignores the Ninth Amendment and treats the enumerated Rights as a complete compilation.

Answer 3

You have rights not in the constitution AND that even tho those rights are enumerated, they don't necessarily preclude or supercede those you retain.

The first 8 amendments are illustrative and key rights but are not exhaustive (e.g. they don't specify all rights you have)

Answer 4

basically, the congress in making the bill of rights, did not want it to be considered an exclusive list of rights. There are certain "inalienable rights" that are just too numerous to number, the right to travel, right to breath, the right to work, the right to maintain family relations, the right to dispose of you property by will, etc. The congress did not want the bill of rights to sound like an exclusion of other rights not mentioned.

Answer 5

That which is not expressly permitted is not forbidden - that civil rights extend beyond the written Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Answer 6

You have rights that are not in the constitution.