The Tenth Amendment: Limiting Federal Powers

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were born out of a highly contentious and passionate ideological debate over the relative balance of federal versus state powers. The Tenth Amendment is a further attempt to address the challenges of reaching and maintaining that balance. Readers will learn about the historical context behind why this amendment was deemed necessary and how it was debated, drafted, and ratified. The application of the amendment to specific cases reveals how notions of states versus federal rights have evolved over time. The lively and high-stakes debate over federal power and its limitations is illustrated with reference to relevant contemporary issues, like drinking and driving ages, speed limits, gun ownership and use, health care, environmental standards, food and drug laws, and controlled substances. Readers will be fascinated by this ongoing conflict between state and federal government.