What does the Tenth Amendment address?

• A. Rights of the states and the people
• B. Powers delegated to the federal government
• C. Bill of Rights protections
• D. Judicial powers of the Supreme Court

Answer: (A)

The Tenth Amendment specifically addresses the distribution of powers between the federal government and the states. It emphasizes that any powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved for the states and the people. This amendment was included to provide clarity on the scope of federal authority and to protect states' rights, ensuring that the federal government would not overstep its bounds in areas that are not explicitly granted to it. Thus, it reinforces the principle of federalism, which is a foundational element of the U.S. system of governance, promoting a balance of power by reserving various rights and responsibilities to individual states and their citizens.