What does the 9th Ammendment mean to you?

[golfhobo]

For those without a reference book handy, in 1791 only 4 years after the ratification of the Constitution, Congress passed the first 10 Ammendments, known as the Bill of Rights.

They are summarized as follows:

1) Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly & petition.
2) Right to bear arms.
3) Quartering of soldiers.
4) Protection against illegal search & seizures.
5) Right against self-incrimination, "double jeopardy" and for due process.
6) Right to trial by jury, counsel, open indictment in criminal cases.
7) Right to jury in civil cases.
8: Protection against excessive penalties, cruel or unusual punishment.
9) ALL OTHER RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.
10) States Rights (or the people's laws.)

Do you think they had in mind that they wanted an even TEN Ammendments, States Rights being the last, and just couldn't come up with anything good for the Ninth?? Or did they have something concrete in mind for the Ninth that, in order of importance, was above States Rights? (the order is not my point here.)

Here is what the Ninth Ammendment to our Constitution guarantees us:

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

As further background, let me also post the 10th Ammendment:

"The powers NOT delegated to the United States (gov't) by the Constitution, nor prohibited by IT to the States, are reserved to the states respectively, OR TO THE PEOPLE."

This is a summary by Webster's Student Handbook for College students of what is meant by these two ammendments:

"Ammendments 9 and 10 protected the rights of the people and the states by giving them ALL powers not specifically delegated to the federal government. It was a safeguard against a 'too powerful' federal government, which many statesmen of the time feared."

Keeping in mind that the preamble to the Constitution ordains it for the purpose of a "more perfect union" AND to "preserve the blessing of Liberty to ourselves and posterity," just WHAT do you think the framers had in mind concerning ALL OTHER RIGHTS, not enumerated in the Constitution, that were NOT to be denied to the people?

I'm not trying to start a political arguement here. (although it could happen)

This is something I've been interested in for quite some time. I'd really like to hear what YOU ALL think.

Thanks for participating, if you will.

Hobo

[Fozzy]

I think it was completely vague and a waste of time to even place it in there... :shock:

[chapchap70]

I missed this thread when originally started.

Can we say that if the 10th amendment has been nullified, the 9th has been as well?

I don't think the framers had in mind witholding of taxes (legalized theft), social security, federal laws on how schools are run, E.P.A., D.O.T., etc., etc., etc.

[golfhobo]

I missed this thread when originally started.

That's alright, Chapchap, it was "panned" by the critics!

Can we say that if the 10th amendment has been nullified, the 9th has been as well?

Not necessarily. First, I wouldn't agree that the 10th has been nullified. That is why each state has the right to vote on the anti-gay marriage ammendment of their OWN choice. (Among other things.) Now... if the U.S. Constitution should be so ammended, then the 10th might go down in flames! Furthermore, I believe there WAS a method to the madness that put the States' Rights AFTER those of the people.

I don't think the framers had in mind witholding of taxes (legalized theft), social security, federal laws on how schools are run, E.P.A., D.O.T., etc., etc., etc.

You might be right in principle. The Federal Government was originally formed for the MAIN purpose of consolidating, and funding, a national defense... and perhaps some trade agreements. Of course, it was understood that SOME funding for this had to come from either the States OR the people. But, the other acronyms you mentioned were NOT really envisioned OR planned for at the time. Yet another example of the short-sightedness of Federal governments.

But, I believe they were CLEAR in their intent that the PEOPLE had certain rights that the government was NOT designed to control. Such as reproductive rights, use of intoxicants (where no one else is put in danger,) and many others.

I don't know the full intended meaning of the 9th Ammendment. But, I'm quite sure it HAD one! And before ALL our rights are decided for us by the government, I think we ought to convene some statesmen to address the situation.

I don't think this discussion will go anywhere on this board. But, thanks for giving it some consideration.

I'll let you know next week, if you still have the RIGHT to do so!!

[wot i life]

Did you know?
We British have no written constitution
We have a series of statutes e.g Magna Carta of 1215, and common practices of Parliament....
Bit of useless trivia for you Hobo, mate :wink:

[golfhobo]

Did you know?
We British have no written constitution
We have a series of statutes e.g Magna Carta of 1215, and common practices of Parliament....
Bit of useless trivia for you Hobo, mate :wink:

Hmm.... then HOW do you know what your RIGHTS are?

Or... when they are being trampled?

[wot i life]

Hmm.... then HOW do you know what your RIGHTS are?

Or... when they are being trampled?

Well, basically, we don,t....
That is to say, not all of our rights.. As they are determined by statutes which may or may not change.
The government is totally answerable to the people(in theory) and statutes and common practices are a big voting point.
Does that help? :wink: