What does the right of states to limit power federal government mean?

The right of states to limit the power of the federal government is a fundamental principle of American federalism. It is based on the idea that the federal government should only have the powers that are specifically delegated to it by the Constitution, and that all other powers are reserved to the states.

This principle is reflected in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states:

> "The 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."

In other words, the federal government can only exercise the powers that are explicitly listed in the Constitution. Any powers that are not listed in the Constitution are reserved to the states or to the people.

This principle has been upheld by the Supreme Court in numerous cases. For example, in the case of _McCulloch v. Maryland_ (1819), the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not create a national bank because the Constitution did not specifically delegate that power to the federal government. In the case of _United States v. Lopez_ (1995), the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not regulate gun-free school zones because the Constitution did not specifically delegate that power to the federal government.

The right of states to limit the power of the federal government is an important safeguard against the abuse of power by the federal government. It ensures that the federal government does not become too powerful and that the states retain their autonomy.