"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
— Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Which of the following constitutional principles is most directly reflected in this amendment?
- AThe retention of absolute state sovereignty, replicating the weak federal structure of the Articles of Confederation.
- Federalism, by establishing a division of power between the national government and the state governments.Answer
- CThe elimination of federal supremacy over the states, resolving a key debate from the Articles of Confederation.
- DThe implementation of Alexander Hamilton's factional goal of granting unlimited implied powers to the executive branch.
Answer
Federalism, by establishing a division of power between the national government and the state governments.
The correct answer is the option stating that the amendment reflects federalism by establishing a division of power between the national and state governments. The Tenth Amendment explicitly states that any powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people. This embodies the principle of federalism, which is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Federalism and the division of powers between national and state governments