Constitutional State Rights

When the Constitution was created, it not only granted rights to the people and the government as a whole, but it also gave rights to the smaller parts of government like the states. The states, just like the federal government, have to enforce the laws that are stated in the Constitution. They also have certain rights granted to them by the Constitution that only the states have. Some of these rights are explained below.

In the Bill of Rights, the 10th amendment to be more precise, you can read that any right not granted to the "United States by the Constitution or prohibited by it to the States" are reserved for the states. This means that the states have certain rights that the federal government does not. For example, the states have the right to hand out drivers licenses individually by state, not just one drivers license for everyone. Each state must require their own qualifications that one must meet in order to be able to receive a drivers license.

Another right that is reserved for the states is the right to choose their own political personnel. The states have the right to choose who they want to lead and represent them in Congress. Also, they have the ability to choose which regulations one must follow in order to get a marriage license just like the drivers license. Each state has their own qualifications that one must meet. These are just some of the most common state rights that the federal government cannot intervene in.