Amendments
Amendment X
Constitution of the United States
Official text
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.
Proposed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.
In plain English
Powers the Constitution does not give to the federal government, and does not forbid to the states, stay with the states or with the people. The federal government has only the powers listed; everything else is reserved.
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite."
- James Madison, The Federalist No. 45 (1788)
Plain-English summary drafted by Christian Vote USA; editor review pending. Always read the official text above.
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Learn more
- Federalism: The Nation and the States (How Our Government Works)
- The Tenth Amendment: Powers Reserved to the States and the People (The Bill of Rights)
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