Which statement best describes powers reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment?

• A. Powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.
• B. Powers not granted to the states are reserved to the federal government.
• C. All governmental powers belong to the national government.
• D. The states may not exercise any authority unless Congress permits.

Answer: (A)

The Tenth Amendment sets a clear rule: powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people. This means federal authority is limited to what the Constitution grants, and everything else stays with the states unless a federal power is explicitly provided. It protects state sovereignty by keeping broad authority at the state level on many issues unless Congress acts within its enumerated powers. If something isn’t a federal power and isn’t forbidden to the states, the states decide.

The other ideas don’t fit: saying unassigned powers go to the federal government would centralize authority; claiming all governmental powers belong to the national government ignores state sovereignty; and suggesting states may not exercise any authority unless Congress permits would contradict the reservation of powers to the states.