Which amendment reserves powers not given to the United States or prohibited to the states to the states?

Which amendment reserves powers not given to the United States or prohibited to the states to the states?

• A. Amendment 10
• B. Amendment 9
• C. Amendment 11
• D. Amendment 12

Answer: (A)

Federalism and reserved powers: the United States divides power so that the national government handles powers specifically granted to it, while all other powers fall to the states or the people. The amendment in question makes this division explicit by saying that any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people. This is the mechanism that allows states to regulate most daily affairs—things like schooling, licensing, and intrastate commerce—unless Congress acts within its constitutional authority. It also clarifies that the federal government’s power is limited to what the Constitution grants it. The others mentioned pertain to different topics and do not establish this broad allocation of power between the national and state governments.

Federalism and reserved powers: the United States divides power so that the national government handles powers specifically granted to it, while all other powers fall to the states or the people. The amendment in question makes this division explicit by saying that any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people. This is the mechanism that allows states to regulate most daily affairs—things like schooling, licensing, and intrastate commerce—unless Congress acts within its constitutional authority. It also clarifies that the federal government’s power is limited to what the Constitution grants it. The others mentioned pertain to different topics and do not establish this broad allocation of power between the national and state governments.