What does the 10th Amendment pertain to in terms of government powers?

The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution is a crucial part of the Bill of Rights that emphasizes the principle of federalism by delineating the distribution of power between the federal government and the states. Specifically, it asserts that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people. This means that the federal government cannot overreach into areas that the Constitution has not expressly given it authority over, thereby protecting states' rights and maintaining a balance of power.

This constitutional framework ensures that states retain authority over various functions that are not explicitly assigned to the federal government, thereby reinforcing the autonomy of state governments. The 10th Amendment thus serves as a safeguard for state powers, allowing them to exercise their authority in areas such as education, transportation, and law enforcement, among others.

Understanding this context clarifies why the focus is on the restriction of federal authority over state functions. The other options either misinterpret this federalism principle or refer to powers that are not relevant to the 10th Amendment. For instance, delegation of powers to foreign governments and distribution of powers among international entities do not pertain to the U.S. Constitution’s framework of state and federal power. Similarly