17: Countdown to the Constitution

Today's Topics: the 9th, 10th, and 11th amendments

The 9th and 10th amendments limit the power of the federal govenment. On the other hand, the 11th amendment prohibits the citizens from suing another state in federal courts. (There are some exceptions).

The 9th amendment says that people have more rights not listed in the Constitution. The 9th amendment protects an individual's human rights (the right to food, housing, work, education, healthcare, a clean enviroment, etc).

The 10th amendment says that the States have more rights that are not already taken by the federal government. The 10th amendment gives states the power to organize state and local government.

The 11th amendment says that citizens cannot sue other states in federal courts because the citizen does not live in the other state and therefore is not subject to the other state's laws. (There are some exceptions).

For example:

• Everyone in the US has the right to an education. People must know how to read and think so that they can make good decisions when they vote.
• The state, county, and local goverments build and staff schools and libraries. People who study in the schools and libraries are able to particpate in the community to the the best of their ability.
• Citizens who live outside the state of California cannot sue California about CA education laws.They cannot sue Califonia about the UC admissions policy, CAHSEE testing, bi-lingual education, or charter schools.