The balance of power between the federal government and individual states is one of America's oldest and most enduring constitutional debates. The Tenth Amendment reserves to the states all powers not delegated to the federal government, yet the precise boundary has been contested since the founding. Today, this tension manifests in conflicts over immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies, federal funding conditions, gun regulations, abortion access, marijuana legalization, and environmental standards. The January 2026 standoff in Minnesota—where the state challenged ICE operations, the Governor placed the National Guard on standby, and the federal government threatened to withhold billions in Medicaid funds—represents the most acute federal-state conflict in decades, raising questions about the limits of federal authority and states' ability to resist federal policy.

Abortion policy in the United States has undergone dramatic changes since the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision (2022) overturned Roe v. Wade, returning abortion regulation to the states. The current landscape varies dramatically by state, from near-total bans to constitutional protections for abortion access.

Gun policy in the United States involves balancing Second Amendment rights with public safety concerns. The debate encompasses federal and state regulations, licensing requirements, and restrictions on specific firearm types and accessories.