Final answer:
The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution affirms the states' reserved powers. It protects state government authority and ensures that power remains with the states or the people. It has led to historical and contemporary conflicts over the roles of national and state governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, also known as the reserved powers clause, affirms the states' reserved powers. It states that any powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution and not prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people. This amendment was included in the Bill of Rights to protect state government authority and ensure that power remains with the states or the people.
Throughout history, there have been conflicts over the roles of national and state governments. One example is the issue of federalism, which is the division of power between the federal government and the state governments. This has led to debates over issues such as states' rights, taxation, and regulation of commerce. The Tenth Amendment serves as a reminder that any powers not specifically given to the federal government are retained by the states or the people.