Final answer:
The Tenth Amendment reserves powers to the states that are not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, emphasizing the federalism principle of dividing power between state and federal governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the Tenth Amendment is encapsulated in option D: it reserves powers to the states that are not delegated to Congress or prohibited by the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment is often referred to as the reserved powers clause, implying that any powers not specifically granted to the federal government nor denied to the states are reserved for the states or the people.
This ensures a balance of power between the federal government and the state governments, underpinning the principle of federalism.The inclusion of the Tenth Amendment in the Bill of Rights was primarily driven by the Anti-Federalists' concern for maintaining a significant degree of state sovereignty and preventing the federal government from accumulating too much power.
It acts as a constitutional affirmation that the federal structure of government allows for states to have autonomy over certain areas, typically those related to their internal affairs, such as education, public health, and intrastate commerce.