What are reserved powers?

Reserved powers are defined as the powers that are not explicitly delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor are they prohibited to the states. This principle is rooted in the Tenth Amendment, which states that any 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.

By designating these powers as reserved, the Constitution allows states to have authority over various issues that are not specified at the federal level, thus ensuring a degree of autonomy for state governments. This framework promotes a federal system where both the national and state governments can operate within their designated spheres of influence, which is essential for managing local matters that are best understood and addressed at the state level.

The other choices focus on powers that are either allocated explicitly to the federal government, denied to both levels of government, or shared powers, which do not accurately describe the nature of reserved powers. Therefore, the correct understanding of reserved powers aligns with the definition provided in the answer.