What are reserved/police powers?

Reserved powers, often referred to as police powers, are those that the Constitution does not explicitly grant to the federal government, and instead, they are reserved for the states. This concept is rooted in the Tenth Amendment, which asserts 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.

These powers allow states to regulate matters within their own borders, such as education, public safety, health, and welfare, which are often referred to as police powers. By granting these authorities to states, the framers of the Constitution aimed to create a balance between state and federal powers, allowing states the flexibility to address the needs and issues of their residents.

This choice properly reflects the federalist structure of the U.S. government, where certain responsibilities and powers are decentralized, ensuring that local and state governments have the authority to govern on matters that may not require federal intervention.