Shaniaya G. answered • 4d
AP Gov, AP History & Essay Writing ✨GOAT✨| FRQs, Analysis & Exam Prep
This confusion usually comes from thinking the 10th Amendment cancels out federal authority. It doesn’t.
The Constitution creates a system of federalism where power is divided between national and state governments. Article I, Section 8 gives Congress enumerated powers — specific powers like regulating interstate commerce, taxing, coining money, declaring war, etc.
The 10th Amendment says that powers not delegated to the federal government — and not prohibited to the states — are reserved to the states or the people.
So how can federal law override state law?
Because of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI. It states that the Constitution and laws made “in pursuance thereof” are the supreme law of the land. That means when Congress acts within its enumerated powers, federal law overrides conflicting state law.
The key phrase is “in pursuance thereof.” Federal law only overrides state law when it is constitutional — meaning it falls within delegated powers.
Example:
If Congress passes an environmental regulation under its power to regulate interstate commerce, and a state passes a weaker environmental law that conflicts with it, the federal law prevails.
But if Congress tried to regulate something clearly outside its enumerated powers — for example, purely local non-economic activity with no interstate impact — states could challenge that law, and the Court may side with the states.
The 10th Amendment does not limit legitimate federal power. It limits federal overreach.
So the structure works like this:
• Enumerated powers define what Congress CAN do
• The Supremacy Clause makes valid federal law superior
• The 10th Amendment protects everything NOT delegated
They are not contradictions. They are guardrails in the same system.
