Thomas Jefferson Quote 

"I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground:
That 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the
people' (10th Amendment). To take a single step beyond the boundaries
thus specifically drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take
possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible to any
definition."

by:
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source:
Opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank, letter to George Washington,15 February 1791,
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Boyd, ed., vol. 19 (276)
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Reader comments about this quote:
We've taken more than a "single step" beyond these boundaries in the past, let's say, 150 years. It's time for the states to wake up and take back their constitutional powers and demand an amendment to re-affirm the absoluteness of the 10th Amendment. And since Congress won't cooperate willingly - we have to bypass Congress by forcing a Constitutional Convention (that's the part of Article V that they don't teach you and don't want you to know about)!
 -- Andy, Portland, OR		 
Oh No!!! This is the same Thomas Jefferson that is reverenced for his off the cuff "separation of Church and State" statement. Perhaps this one will catch on with our governmentalists as well. Actually, for what its worth, there was an extraordinary Tenth Amendment Resolution in Colorado that advised the Feds that the State was taking back its right under the Constitution. It passed and was awesome. I proprose something similar at every precinct / county / state convention in my state. it always makes it to the platform, but never gets past the legislature. You might want to try it too. God bless, and Happy 4th.
 -- Michael , Houston, TX		 
All words from Thomas Jefferson are encouraging and enlightening.Happy 4th.
 -- Me Again		 
Until we intelligently live by The Constitution and stop having our lives dictated by big business, corrupt politicians, and the church, we will continue on our downward path of self destruction. It’s absolutely amazing that we conem the New York Times for telling the truth while we condone the government when it lies to its people. Happy 4th
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
And the worse violator of this today is not Congress who is simply not performing their duties, but the great upsurper King George who is acting far beyond any granted set of power and responsibilities.
 -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US		 
The Tenth Amendment died in 1861, when the Federal government told the states that they could not voluntarily and legally leave a union they had voluntarily joined. All the pontificating on states rights will never change that. Government never gives up power once gained voluntarily. That is why a Constitutional Convention will never be allowed to happen.
 -- Ken, Allyn, WA		 
Boundless power indeed. Another revolution is inevitable -- whether soon or decades from now. The human race is waking up -- it is a long process. But people cannot live on hypocrisy forever so revolutions will continue -- as long as there are seekers of truth and practitioners of love, revolutions will continue.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
 -- P.M 
Hundreds of thousands of steps beyond the boundaries of the Constitution have been taken. Our government is the greatest joke in the world. We spew the words of freedom from our mouths, as we beat people and governments into submission.
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI		 
If Mr. Jefferson were alive today, he'd be labeled an "enemy combatant" by Homeland InSecurity and all his rights denied him. He would be considered a terrorist by our King George's mis-government and imprisoned, where he would commit "suicide" by hanging himself with shoe-strings! Anyone who publicly agreed with his views would soon find themselves in the same predicament until ALL such "terrorist" views would be wiped out and only the cowards or cohorts of the neo-mafia would be left in control. Look around. Has it already happened?
 -- Son of George(Washington, that is), Everytown, U.S.		 
 -- Anonymous 
Evidently, Obama doesn't see any use for the 10th amendment; defeats his purposes so he'll just ignore it, pretty much like he does most of the wisdom shared with us by the Founders. After all, socialism isn't supported by Founding Fathers' wisdom, henceforth, that wisdom means little to the present administration, as it has in preceding administrations. And now we're stuck with trying to live by the Constitution in the face of an administration that openly defies the Constitution.
 -- Nancy, OH		 
Nancy, King George's admin wiped their ass with our Constitution.
 -- Steve, DC		 
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