Final answer:
Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution lists specific powers denied to the states, such as coining money or engaging in war, while the Tenth Amendment reserves all powers not explicitly granted to the federal government or denied to the states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the U.S. Constitution that defines powers denied to the states is found in Article I, Section 10. This section lists specific prohibitions to the states to avoid conflicts with the national government and to preserve a unified national policy in certain areas. For instance, states are not allowed to coin their own money, tax imports and exports from other states, maintain their own armies, engage in separate wars, or enter into treaties. To further address the balance of power between the national and state governments, the Tenth Amendment outlines reserved powers, stating, "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."
This setup helps to maintain the principle of limited government and ensures both the rule of law and the rights of the states and the people are respected. It is interesting to note that while the Constitution explicitly restricts the states from certain activities, it is through the Tenth Amendment where the constitution empowers the states by reserving all powers not explicitly granted to the federal government or denied to the states themselves.