The Tenth Amendment in simple terms says that the federal government only has the powers that the Constitution specifically gives it. Any powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people. This helps keep the government limited and makes sure states and individuals keep their rights.
Explanation of the Tenth Amendment
- It expresses the principle of federalism, which means that power is shared between the federal government and the states.
- Powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution, and not forbidden to the states, are reserved for the states or the people.
- This amendment was added to satisfy those who wanted a limited federal government and to protect states' and people's rights that were not mentioned in the Constitution.
