tenth amendment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (common in legal, political, and historical contexts)Formal, Legal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “tenth amendment” mean?
The constitutional amendment reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The constitutional amendment reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.
A principle of federalism and limited government; often invoked in debates about states' rights and the scope of federal authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an American political/legal term. In British contexts, it would only appear in discussions of comparative constitutional law or U.S. history.
Connotations
In American discourse, carries strong connotations of federalism, states' rights, and limiting central government power. Can be politically charged.
Frequency
Virtually exclusive to American English. Extremely rare in general British English outside specialized fields.
Grammar
How to Use “tenth amendment” in a Sentence
[Subject] invokes the Tenth Amendment.[Legal argument] is based on the Tenth Amendment.The Tenth Amendment reserves [power] to the states.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tenth amendment” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Tenth-Amendment principles
- a Tenth-Amendment argument
American English
- Tenth Amendment principles
- a Tenth Amendment argument
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in highly regulated industries discussing state vs. federal jurisdiction.
Academic
Common in law, political science, history, and constitutional studies.
Everyday
Rare, typically in political discussion or news about state-federal conflicts.
Technical
Core term in U.S. constitutional law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tenth amendment”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tenth amendment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tenth amendment”
- Writing 'tenth amendment' in lower case.
- Confusing it with other amendments about individual rights (e.g., forgetting it's about state powers).
- Using it to refer to individual, rather than state, rights.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. It clarifies that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people. It is a rule of construction, not a direct grant.
No. Under the Supremacy Clause, valid federal laws are the 'supreme Law of the Land.' The Tenth Amendment is used to argue a law is invalid because it exceeds Congress's enumerated powers, not to justify state non-compliance with a valid law.
Yes. It is a cornerstone of federalism debates in the U.S., frequently cited in legal challenges to federal regulations on issues like healthcare, education, environmental policy, and drug legalisation.
This phrase is often used to refer to the reserved powers of states, not individual rights. It's about the division of authority between state and federal governments.
The constitutional amendment reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.
Tenth amendment is usually formal, legal, academic, political in register.
Tenth amendment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtenθ əˈmendmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɛnθ əˈmɛndmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Ten' for 'Tenth' and 'The States' for the powers it reserves to them. The Tenth lets the states tend to their own business.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WALL (between federal and state power), a RESERVATION (of powers for the states), a BALANCE (in the federal system).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary legal effect of the Tenth Amendment?