Which concept describes powers reserved for the states through the Tenth Amendment, such as education, local government, and policing?

• A. Reserved powers
• B. Enumerated powers
• C. Implied powers
• D. Expressed powers

Answer: (A)

This question is about how power is divided under federalism and how the Tenth Amendment shapes what the states handle. The Tenth Amendment says that powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people. Education, local government, and policing are actions typically organized and managed at the state or local level, not by the national government. That makes them reserved powers—they belong to the states by default because they aren’t enumerated as federal responsibilities.

It's helpful to contrast with other terms: expressed (or enumerated) powers are the specific duties listed for Congress in the Constitution, like coin money or declaring war. Implied powers are those the federal government can use to carry out its expressed powers, even if not spelled out word-for-word, via the Necessary and Proper Clause. So those categories describe federal authority, whereas reserved powers describe state authority.