[robertpaulsen]

With the exception of the ninth and tenth amendments, the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution was written to establish and guarantee the relationship between the federal government and its citizens.

You have a different definition?

[Dead Corpse]

Art VI, Para 2
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

"...or Laws of any State to the contrary..." kind dumps your whole argument right in the toilet.

Don't go away mad, just go away....

[tacticalogic]

You have a different definition?

Maybe. At any rate, I think we've established that the assertion that the Constitution "defines federal powers only" doesn't tell the whole story.

[Maelstrom]

With the exception of the ninth and tenth amendments, the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution was written to establish and guarantee the relationship between the federal government and its citizens.

You have a different definition?

YEAH As per ratification documents, the Bill of Rights is the contract by which several states signed onto the Constitution. As per documented in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers, the Bill of Rights is a redundant measure to ensure that our Constitution is understood as one of strictly enumerated powers.

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution,
expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further
declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public
confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed
to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all,
or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all
intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America,
proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth
Article of the original Constitution.