The Tenth Amendment states:

• A. The federal government retains powers not delegated to it
• B. Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people
• C. The states can never exercise any powers
• D. The Constitution grants all powers to the federal government

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is federalism—the division of power between the national government and the states as set by the Tenth Amendment. This amendment says that the federal government only has the powers specifically granted to it by the Constitution; any powers not delegated to it are reserved for the states or the people. That establishes a check on federal authority and protects state sovereignty.

So the correct view is that powers not given to the federal government stay with the states or the people. The other statements contradict this balance: one claims the opposite of what’s delegated to the federal government, another wrongly asserts states have no powers, and another claims the Constitution grants all powers to the federal government.