According to the _____ Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, powers not specifically reserved to the federal government are reserved to the state government.

The correct answer is the 10th Amendment. This amendment plays a vital role in defining the concept of federalism within the United States. It stipulates that any powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved for the states or the people. This fundamental principle helps maintain a balance of power between the federal government and the individual states, ensuring that states have the authority to govern themselves in areas not governed by federal law. This amendment emphasizes the autonomy of state governments and reinforces their powers to legislate and regulate within their own jurisdictions, providing a check against the potential overreach of federal authority.