American Government / Unit 2 Gov 062 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Reserved Powers
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The idea
Reserved powers are powers kept by the states: the Tenth Amendment reserves to the states, or the people, powers not delegated to the national government.
In practice
The original Constitution never listed state powers; ratifying states demanded an explicit amendment.
Where people slip
Reservation is a residue rule — whatever is not granted away is kept.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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