Amendment X (1791)

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.

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, serves as a cornerstone of American federalism by affirming the principle of state sovereignty. This crucial amendment delineates the division of powers between the federal government and the states, emphasizing that any authority not explicitly granted to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, is reserved for the states or the people. In essence, the Tenth Amendment reiterates the framers' intent to limit the reach of federal authority, thereby preserving the autonomy and diversity of the individual states within the larger framework of the federal system. This enduring provision continues to shape the balance of power between the national government and the states, reflecting the enduring significance of the Tenth Amendment in American governance.