Amendment Ten: 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.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The states or the people have all rights and powers not specifically given to the national government and not forbidden to them by the Constitution.
All of these amendments make up the Bill of Rights. Read them again, if necessary. These are the rights guaranteed to all Americans, and it is to the benefit of every citizen to be aware of them.
The Constitution which emerged from the 1787 Constitutional Convention did not contain a Bill of Rights because most state constitutions contained this for them. The framers felt that they wanted a more limited national government, and if a Bill of Rights was added, this would grant more power to the federal government to be involved in the lives of the people.
James Wilson put it this way, “[T]here is given to the general government no power whatsoever concerning it.” Edmund Randolph made the same point regarding freedom of religion, emphasizing that “[n]o part of the Constitution, even if strictly construed, will justify a conclusion that the general government can take away or impair the freedom of religion.”
Many felt that the inclusion of a Bill of Rights would grant powers to the government that had not actually been granted. In 1791, the framers decided to add a Bill of Rights. The first eight amendments are specifically what the federal government can and can't do regarding personal liberties. The tenth amendment was added in the case of a dispute. If a person feels their liberties are being violated in a way that is not specifically addressed in the Constitution, then the issue goes to the states to be decided.
James Wilson put it this way, “[T]here is given to the general government no power whatsoever concerning it.” Edmund Randolph made the same point regarding freedom of religion, emphasizing that “[n]o part of the Constitution, even if strictly construed, will justify a conclusion that the general government can take away or impair the freedom of religion.”
Many felt that the inclusion of a Bill of Rights would grant powers to the government that had not actually been granted. In 1791, the framers decided to add a Bill of Rights. The first eight amendments are specifically what the federal government can and can't do regarding personal liberties. The tenth amendment was added in the case of a dispute. If a person feels their liberties are being violated in a way that is not specifically addressed in the Constitution, then the issue goes to the states to be decided.
