How did the US Constitution balance power between states and the federal government?

The US Constitution balanced power between states and the federal government through a system known as federalism.

Federalism, as outlined in the US Constitution, is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority (the federal government) and constituent political units (the states). This system was designed to prevent the concentration of power in a single entity and to allow for a degree of autonomy at the state level.

The Constitution outlines specific powers that are reserved for the federal government, such as the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, to declare war, and to maintain a military. These powers are outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment further clarifies this division of power, stating that 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 powers not explicitly given to the federal government in the Constitution are assumed to belong to the states or the people.

This division of power is further reinforced by the system of checks and balances, which ensures that no single branch of government (executive, legislative, or judicial) can dominate the others. This system allows each branch to check the power of the others, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

However, the balance of power between the federal government and the states has been a point of contention throughout US history. The interpretation of the Constitution and the extent of federal powers versus state powers has been debated in many landmark Supreme Court cases, such as McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and United States v. Lopez (1995). These cases have shaped the understanding and application of federalism in the United States.

In conclusion, the US Constitution balances power between the states and the federal government through the system of federalism, the specific enumeration of powers, and the system of checks and balances. However, the interpretation of these provisions has evolved over time and continues to be a subject of debate.