Which amendment prohibits double jeopardy?

The Fifth Amendment is the correct choice as it specifically includes the protection against double jeopardy. This legal principle prohibits an individual from being tried twice for the same offense after a valid acquittal or conviction. The amendment states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." This protection is grounded in the idea that once someone has been acquitted or convicted, they should not face the emotional and financial distress of undergoing a second trial for the same crime.

In contrast, the First Amendment pertains to rights related to freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petitioning the government. The Ninth Amendment addresses rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, indicating that individuals have other rights beyond those listed. The Fourteenth Amendment is primarily focused on issues of citizenship and equal protection under the law, and while it does contain provisions relevant to due process, it does not specifically address the issue of double jeopardy. Thus, the Fifth Amendment is uniquely positioned as the source of the prohibition against being tried twice for the same crime.