What is the purpose of the 9th Amendment?

The purpose of the 9th Amendment is to affirm that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not mean that other unenumerated rights, held by the people, are not protected. This amendment emphasizes that the rights of individuals are not limited solely to those explicitly listed in the Constitution. It serves as a safeguard against the potential government overreach that could occur if only the specified rights were granted recognition.

This principle is a fundamental aspect of the Constitution's design, ensuring that the rights of the people are broad and not confined to a specific list. Therefore, the 9th Amendment plays a crucial role in protecting individual liberties and affirming the existence of rights that may not be expressly mentioned, thereby underscoring the importance of recognizing the full scope of personal freedoms.