Question

Which amendment to the Constitution stated that the powers not delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states were "reserved to the states"? (A) Tenth Amendment (B) Nineteenth Amendment (C) Twenty-fifth Amendment (D) Thirty-second Amendment

Short answer

The short answer is: (A) Tenth Amendment.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the given options

We have four amendments given as options. Let's briefly discuss each amendment to understand its purpose: (A) Tenth Amendment: This amendment is part of the Bill of Rights and deals with the balance of power between the federal government and the states. (B) Nineteenth Amendment: This amendment granted women the right to vote. (C) Twenty-fifth Amendment: This amendment deals with presidential succession, disability, and vacancies in the office of the vice president. (D) Thirty-second Amendment: This amendment does not exist as there are currently only 27 amendments to the US Constitution.

Determine the correct answer

Based on our analysis of each option: - The Nineteenth Amendment and the Twenty-fifth Amendment are related to voting rights and presidential succession, respectively. They do not address the balance of power between the federal government and the states. - The Thirty-second Amendment does not exist. Given that the Tenth Amendment deals with the balance of power between the federal government and the states, it is the correct answer.

Provide the correct answer

Based on our analysis, the correct answer is: (A) Tenth Amendment

Key concepts

U.S. Constitution

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the United States and serves as the foundation of the nation's legal system. It outlines the structure of the federal government and its relationship to the states and citizens. Ratified in 1788, the Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances through three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The Constitution was designed to be a living document, with the ability to be amended so it can adapt to changing times without losing its core principles. To date, there have been 27 amendments to the Constitution. These amendments cover a wide range of issues, including the abolition of slavery, the right to vote for women, and the terms under which the president and vice president are elected and succeed one another.

Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is the collective name given to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Ratified in 1791, these amendments were introduced to guarantee essential rights and civil liberties for individuals. These rights include freedom of speech, religion, and the press, the right to bear arms, protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to a fair trial, among others.

The Bill of Rights was a response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection of individual freedoms. James Madison drafted the amendments, and their incorporation helped to ease the fears of Anti-Federalists, who were concerned about a too powerful central government, thus aiding in the ratification of the Constitution itself. The presence of the Bill of Rights is a testament to the enduring nature of the rights it protects and its importance in American law and society.

Federalism

Federalism is the system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units—in the case of the United States, between the federal government and the states. This framework is outlined in the U.S. Constitution and further clarified by amendments, most notably the Tenth Amendment.

The Tenth Amendment explicitly states 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 creates a balance that allows for local control in certain areas, while still maintaining a strong central government for national concerns. Federalism promotes a union of states with distinct powers and the ability to govern themselves in matters not expressly covered by federal law. It's a unique and dynamic system that has played a crucial role in the development of American governance and the rights of its citizens.