How does the Tenth Amendment reinforce state powers?

The Tenth Amendment reinforces state powers by explicitly reserving powers that are not granted to the federal government by the Constitution for the states or the people. This means that any authority not specifically outlined for the federal government in the Constitution is left to the individual states or to the citizens themselves.

The amendment serves as a constitutional affirmation of the federal system in which power is divided between the national and state governments. This is crucial for maintaining a balance between federal authority and state autonomy. By recognizing that states retain certain rights, the Tenth Amendment helps protect against the overreach of federal power and underscores the principle of federalism, which allows states to exercise their own governing powers within the scope of their jurisdictions.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the function of the Tenth Amendment. For instance, affirming federal authority contradicts the amendment's intent; outlining specific state rights is not the focus of the amendment, which speaks more generally about powers; and limiting state powers doesn't align with the purpose of reserving powers to them.