Which amendment addresses the rights of states?

The Tenth Amendment specifically addresses the rights of states within the context of the U.S. Constitution. It asserts that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people. This amendment is fundamental in ensuring that states maintain a degree of sovereignty, reinforcing the principle of federalism that underlines the constitutional structure of the United States.

This principle means that unless the Constitution specifically gives a power to the federal government, that power remains with the states. The Tenth Amendment thus serves as a constitutional safeguard against the overreach of federal authority, solidifying the balance of power between the national government and the states.

In contrast, the other amendments listed do not specifically focus on the rights and powers of states in relation to the federal government. For example, the Third Amendment deals with the quartering of soldiers, the Eleventh focuses on the judicial power of the United States being limited in certain cases involving states, and the Fourteenth Amendment primarily addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, as well as due process.