The 10th Amendment is about the powers of the Federal Government, the States and the People. 10th Amendment: 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. While certain enumerated (listed) powers are given to the federal government, this amendment specifically reserves all other powers to the states, or to the people. The original text reads: “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.”. Summary of the 10th Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791. The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was designed to prevent the federal government to run amok, claiming powers the people do not wish it to have. Under the 10th Amendment, governors have “the authority to take public health emergency actions, such as setting quarantines and business restrictions,” according to … George Landrith is the president of Frontiers of Freedom, a public policy think tank devoted to promoting a strong national defense, free markets, individual liberty, and constitutionally limited government. The doctrine of states’ rights holds that the federal government is barred from interfering with certain rights “reserved” to the individual states by the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. - Undelegated Powers Kept by the States and the People. 10th Amendment Rights Reserved to States or People. 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. Summary: The 10th Amendment states that any powers that the Constitution does not give to the US government, belong to the states and the people, excluding powers that the Constitution says the states cannot have. Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. ← Previous Post Next Post →. Tenth Amendment: 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 historical precursor to the Tenth Amendment was Article II of the Articles of Confederation, which declared that, “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.”. The Tenth Amendment was intended to confirm the understanding of the people at the time the Constitution was adopted, that powers not granted to the United States were reserved to the States or to the people. It is also referred to as the Privileges or Immunities Clause. The 10th Amendment “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.” LEARN MORE The 10th Amendment was not added to the Constitution until after that basic document had been ratified, but it was, in fact, actually necessary to help fulfill the promise made at the Philadelphia Convention to the smaller states. Ratified December 15, 1791. The Tenth Amendment is key to their wise designs to limit the power and scope of the federal government. That was a pledge that they would not have to give up all of their powers to the new federal government. The first 10 amendments form the Bill of Rights Amendment 10.