Which amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states?

Which amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states?

• A. The Tenth Amendment
• B. The Fourth Amendment
• C. The Sixth Amendment
• D. The Twelfth Amendment

Answer: (A)

This question tests federalism and reserved powers. The Tenth Amendment states that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. In other words, it assigns to either state governments or the people any powers that the Constitution doesn’t specifically grant to the federal government. This is the mechanism that keeps authority decentralized and protects state sovereignty in areas not covered by federal law. The other amendments involve different topics: the Fourth Amendment focuses on protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; the Sixth Amendment covers rights of the accused in criminal prosecutions; the Twelfth Amendment deals with the procedure for electing the president and vice president. None of them establish the principle that unenumerated powers go to the states, which is why they aren’t the correct choice.

This question tests federalism and reserved powers. The Tenth Amendment states that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. In other words, it assigns to either state governments or the people any powers that the Constitution doesn’t specifically grant to the federal government. This is the mechanism that keeps authority decentralized and protects state sovereignty in areas not covered by federal law.

The other amendments involve different topics: the Fourth Amendment focuses on protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; the Sixth Amendment covers rights of the accused in criminal prosecutions; the Twelfth Amendment deals with the procedure for electing the president and vice president. None of them establish the principle that unenumerated powers go to the states, which is why they aren’t the correct choice.