Question

In the nineteenth century, states were able to argue that many of their powers derived from their authority to "advance the safety, happiness and prosperity" of their citizens. These were called their:

1) Constitutional powers
2) Reserved powers
3) Police powers
4) Enumerated powers

Answer 1

The nineteenth-century state powers to "advance the safety, happiness and prosperity" of their citizens are known as 'police powers' and are part of the reserved powers affirmed by the Tenth Amendment.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the nineteenth century, the states were able to argue that many of their powers derived from their authority to "advance the safety, happiness and prosperity" of their citizens. These powers are best known as the police powers. The concept stems from the Tenth Amendment, which affirms the states' reserved powers: "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 means that any power not specifically given to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, is within the states' authority to exercise. While the Constitution gives enumerated powers to the federal government, it leaves the remainder of powers to the states and the people, hence the powers in question related to advancing the well-being of citizens are part of these reserved or police powers.