What does the Tenth Amendment clarify regarding powers?

The Tenth Amendment serves to affirm the principle of federalism by clarifying the distribution of power between the federal government and the states. It asserts that any powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people. This means that states retain authority over a wide array of matters unless the Constitution explicitly gives the federal government the power to regulate those areas.

This amendment was crucial in establishing the limits of federal power, ensuring that states have the jurisdiction to govern in areas such as education, marriage laws, and local law enforcement, amongst others. As a result, the Tenth Amendment reinforces the notion that the federal government is one of limited, enumerated powers, while states retain a broader scope of authority unless explicitly restricted by federal law.