The ______ Amendment addresses rights, retained by the people, that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

• A. First
• B. Tenth
• C. Eighth
• D. Ninth

Answer: (D)

This question tests the idea that people have rights beyond those specifically listed in the Constitution. The Ninth Amendment states that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. In other words, there are additional fundamental rights the people hold even if they aren’t expressly written in the text, and the government can’t claim that only the listed rights exist. For context, the First Amendment covers specific freedoms like speech and religion, the Tenth reserves powers to the states or the people, and the Eighth protects against cruel and unusual punishment. So the statement is pointing to the Ninth Amendment.