Limiting Federal Powers: The Tenth Amendment

The Tenth Amendment says that the powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the individual states and their residents and can not be taken away from them. Like the Ninth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment’s wording is vague and abstract and often debated, especially when applied to such important contemporary issues as the drinking age, gun ownership, health care, environmental standards, and controlled substances. Through full-color and black-and-white photos, engaging text, and primary sources, students will learn why this amendment was created, how notions of states’ versus federal rights have changed throughout history, and how this ongoing conflict between state and federal government affects their lives.