state rights

States' rights refer to the powers and privileges held by regional governments within a federal union, as defined by a federal constitution. In the United States, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution reserves powers not explicitly delegated to the national government to the states or the people. This means states have authority over matters not specifically assigned to the federal government.

A federal state, unlike a unitary state with a single national government, features two levels of government: national and state or provincial. Advocates of states' rights often believe state governments are more responsive to citizens and better equipped to address local issues. Historically, this concept has been central to debates regarding issues like slavery and federal authority over commerce and environmental regulations.1234