WEST-E Social Studies Practice Test

The Ninth Amendment plays a crucial role in the context of individual rights because it explicitly affirms that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution should not be construed to deny or disparage other rights that are retained by the people. This means that just because a specific right is not mentioned in the Constitution does not mean individuals do not have that right. The amendment serves to protect the rights of individuals from being infringed upon by the government, emphasizing that the list of rights detailed in the Constitution is not exhaustive. Therefore, the correct answer underscores the idea that rights not explicitly named cannot be taken away, reinforcing the concept that the people hold a broader range of rights beyond those specifically outlined in the founding documents.