WEST-E Social Studies Practice Test

According to the Tenth Amendment, which entity retains rights not delegated to the national government?

1. The federal government

2. The states or the people

3. The judicial system

4. The President

The correct answer is: The states or the people

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that powers not delegated to the national government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people. This means that any authority that is not explicitly granted to the federal government belongs to the states or is held by the citizens. The Tenth Amendment is a vital part of the federalism structure in the U.S., reinforcing the principle that the federal government cannot overreach its constitutional powers. This amendment emphasizes the importance of state sovereignty and individual rights within the framework of American governance, ensuring that local and state governments retain a level of autonomy. The acknowledgement that states or the people hold these powers supports the idea of a decentralized government, which is key to the U.S. system. The other choices do not correctly reflect the essence of the Tenth Amendment. The federal government is inherently limited to the powers explicitly granted by the Constitution, while the judicial system interprets laws rather than possessing reserved powers. The President, as part of the executive branch, also only has powers specified by the Constitution and laws, further making the federal government option incorrect.