How can federal law trump state laws? Are we being hoodwinked by complacency?

 

The Tenth Amendment (Amendment X) to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, was ratified on December 15, 1791.[1] It expresses the principle of federalism, which strictly supports the entire plan of the original Constitution for the United States of America, by stating that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the United States Constitution. All remaining powers are reserved for the states or the people.

 

The amendment was proposed by Congress in 1789 during its first term following the Constitutional Convention and ratification of the Constitution. It was considered by many members as a prerequisite of such ratification[2] particularly to satisfy demands by the Anti-Federalism movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government.

 

In drafting this amendment, its framers had two purposes in mind: first, as a necessary rule of construction; and second, as a reaffirmation of the nature of the federal system of freedom.[3][4]

Changing attitudes towards some who believe in power given to an all powerful central government. A centralized government may work for many nations of the world, as they are no larger than our largest states. The Constitution does allow for some centralized authority, but gives a lot of power to our states because of the size of our nation and diversity for the various regions of our nation. Yet, there are some who want more power given to the federal government.

What happened to the 10th Amendment was the 16th Amendment, allowing a federal income tax.

 

Constitutionally, the states have no less power that they have ever had. What hinders the states is that the Federal government controls the largest purse and the states acquiesce to the central government so that they do not get cut off from the teat.