Bill > ACR12

This Concurrent Resolution asserts that the State of New Jersey claims sovereignty over all governmental powers not specifically given to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, as outlined in the Tenth Amendment. The Tenth Amendment, a foundational principle of American federalism, states that any powers not explicitly granted to the federal government, nor denied to the states, are reserved for the states or the people. This resolution argues that the federal government was created by the states to act as their agent and that many federal mandates exceed the authority granted by the Constitution, citing a Supreme Court case that prevents Congress from forcing states to adopt federal regulatory programs. Therefore, New Jersey is formally notifying the federal government to stop enforcing any mandates that go beyond its constitutionally defined powers.