Which amendment reserves powers not delegated to the United States to the states or the people?

Which amendment reserves powers not delegated to the United States to the states or the people?

• A. The Eleventh Amendment
• B. The Tenth Amendment
• C. The First Amendment
• D. The Thirteenth Amendment

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is federalism: powers not given to the national government belong to the states or the people. The Tenth Amendment puts this idea into words, saying that any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people. This makes it the best answer because it explicitly establishes who holds those unenumerated powers, anchoring the balance between national and state authority. For context, the Constitution lists certain federal powers and leaves everything else to state or local control unless the Constitution or federal law limits it. The other amendments address different topics: the Eleventh deals with suits against states, the First protects basic civil liberties, and the Thirteenth abolishes slavery—none of these specify how unspecified powers are distributed between national and state governments.

The key idea here is federalism: powers not given to the national government belong to the states or the people. The Tenth Amendment puts this idea into words, saying that any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people. This makes it the best answer because it explicitly establishes who holds those unenumerated powers, anchoring the balance between national and state authority. For context, the Constitution lists certain federal powers and leaves everything else to state or local control unless the Constitution or federal law limits it. The other amendments address different topics: the Eleventh deals with suits against states, the First protects basic civil liberties, and the Thirteenth abolishes slavery—none of these specify how unspecified powers are distributed between national and state governments.