What does the 10th Amendment state?

The 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution enshrines the principle of federalism by stating that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people. This amendment emphasizes the distribution of power between the national and state governments, ensuring that the federal government cannot overreach into areas that the Constitution has not explicitly granted to it. This is crucial for maintaining a balance of power and allowing states to exercise their own rights and responsibilities, reflecting the Founding Fathers' intent to protect state sovereignty and individual liberties.

In contrast, other choices reflect misunderstandings of the scope of federal and state powers. One suggests an overarching authority of the federal government over state matters, while another misinterprets the role of states in legislation, and a choice about federal laws superseding state laws does not take into account the foundational belief of states' rights recognized in the 10th Amendment.