Representative John Culberson (R-TX) discusses the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and demonstrates how he believes the Constitution works by using separate water bottles that represent the people, state government, and federal government. Mr. Culberson is part of a group of conservative House Republicans who are announcing the creation of a new “Tenth Amendment Task Force.”

Discussion Questions

1. The Tenth Amendment states that, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” What does this mean?
2. How does Rep. Culberson suggest the United States should reduce national spending?  Why does he think this is necessary? What information does he use to support his argument?
3. What is the purpose of Rep. Culberson’s water bottle demonstration? 
4. Rep. Culberson claims that the Obama administration’s budgets have created more debt than was created from the time of George Washington to George Bush. Which factors and events in recent history do you believe may have caused that spending?
5. Which events throughout history does Rep. Culberson attribute to what he calls the  federal government’s “omnipotence”?  In your opinion, are there any programs or powers that the federal government currently controls that you believe your state government may better wield? What might the ramifications be, both positive and negative, if your state and others were to control these powers?