Quote:
Originally Posted by Streck-Fu
The Constitution as a whole defines the powers permitted to the federal government by the states and the people. The only reason the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution is due to the insistence of the Anti-Federalist whom did not trust the new federal government to not increase it power and erode liberty. The Federalists believed it unnecessary to define specific rights untouchable by the federal government thinking that the Constitution was clear enough in defining its powers and that the people would not let the new government become tyrannical.
The first 10 amendments define the most important rights that the federal government may not abridge or infringe upon. They do not 'grant' rights....
The states' powers are defined by their individual constitutions and the state governments that the citizens of those states elect. The US Constitution was to have no influence over the states....hence the reason the 14th and 17th amendments killed the power of states as the primary government over the citizens.
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YEAH! What he said! 
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