9th14th

9th14th commonly refers to discussions of the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, sometimes considered together to examine how enumerated rights interact with unenumerated rights and with state power. The two amendments address different constitutional questions but both influence modern civil liberties and constitutional interpretation.

The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of certain rights in the Constitution shall not be used to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people. It emphasizes that constitutional rights are not limited to those explicitly mentioned and that the people may possess additional liberties beyond the text. In practice, the Ninth Amendment is rarely invoked as the sole basis for a claim; instead, it is cited in scholarly and judicial discussions about the scope of rights and the limitations of enumerating rights.

The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, is a foundational instrument for equality and due process in the United States. Its Citizenship Clause guarantees national citizenship to all born or naturalized in the United States. Its Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses prohibit states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process and from denying individuals the equal protection of the laws. The amendment also empowers Congress to enforce its provisions through appropriate legislation. Through incorporation, most provisions of the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, dramatically expanding civil rights.

Together, the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments have shaped debates on unenumerated rights, state authority, and the scope of liberty. The Ninth serves as a caution against restricting rights to those listed, while the Fourteenth provides a mechanism to protect those rights against state action.