States' Rights (Noun)
Meaning 1
The rights conceded to the states by the United States constitution.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Usages
Examples
- The doctrine of states' rights held that the federal government had limited authority to regulate the economy or civil liberties, as those issues fell within the jurisdiction of individual states.
- He supported the protection of individual liberty by invoking the power of states' rights to oppose any national legislation that seemed unconstitutional.
- The 10th Amendment has been interpreted as a states' rights provision, and many advocate the principle that the federal government does not have the power to act in an area where its authority has not been specifically granted to it.
- The issue of states' rights remains a contentious point in American politics, with some seeing it as an important check on federal power and others viewing it as a way to preserve outmoded or discriminatory practices at the state level.
- While most Republicans claim to support states' rights in their campaigns, this support for states' rights sometimes disappears in practice when federal actions conflict with the party's goals.
Meaning 2
A doctrine that federal powers should be curtailed and returned to the individual states.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The debate over states' rights has been a contentious issue in American politics since the country's founding.
- Many politicians have used the doctrine of states' rights to argue against federal regulations and oversight.
- In the 19th century, the concept of states' rights was often invoked by Southern politicians to defend the institution of slavery.
- Today, some politicians continue to advocate for states' rights as a way to limit the power of the federal government.
- The Tea Party movement has also emphasized the importance of states' rights in its push for smaller government and lower taxes.