Question

Why does the tenth amendment use the term reserved to describe the powers to the people and the states?

Answer 1

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. The Tenth Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights to further define the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

Answer 2

The tenth amendment uses the term federalism to consolidate federalism in the United States. In a federal system, some powers are given to the Federal Government but some others are reserved to the states. The tenth amendment says that any powers not granted to the United States by constitution nor prohibited to them by it. For example, military is a federal power but police is reserved to cities.