states' rights

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plural noun

the rights belonging to the various states, especially with reference to the strict interpretation of the Constitution, by which all rights not delegated by the Constitution to the federal government belong to the states.

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Origin of states' rights

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Words nearby states' rights

statesman, statesmanship, state socialism, States of the Church, states' righter, states' rights, States' Rights Democratic Party, Statesville, stateswoman, state tree, state trooper

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use states' rights in a sentence

As LBJ did on civil rights, he must realize there are no constitutional or states-rights issues involved—and should say so.
Obama Knows Better on Question of States’ Rights Over Same-Sex Marriage|Jim Neal|May 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Michele Bachmann supports states rights on gay marriage, but also supports a constitutional amendment outlawing it.
Has the GOP Lost Its Mind?|Michelle Goldberg|June 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Now, this struck me as being a States rights plea, and as far as our domestic policy goes, I am a pretty liberal guy.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
The speaker, Robert M. T. Hunter, was a so-called states-rights man, and a supporter of the independent treasury scheme.
Martin Van Buren|Edward M. Shepard

This same argument had previously been urged in my “Centralisation versus States Rights.”
Memoirs|Charles Godfrey Leland
The Democratic party began its career as a States-rights party.
American Eloquence, Volume I. (of 4)|Various
As was to be expected, he had no regard whatever for states rights.
Gouverneur Morris|Theodore Roosevelt

British Dictionary definitions for states' rights

states' rights

pl n (often capitals) (in the US)

the rights and powers generally conceded to the states, or all those powers claimed for the states under some interpretations of the Constitution

a doctrine advocating the severe curtailment of Federal powers by such an interpretation of the Constitution

Derived forms of states' rights

states righter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for states' rights

states' rights

Rights guaranteed to the states under the principle of federalism. Under the Constitution, states have considerable autonomy to pass, enforce, and interpret their own laws and to pursue their own public policy programs. Proponents of states' rights argue that the states should be governed with a minimum of interference from the federal government.

notes for states' rights

The relationship between federal and state responsibilities has often been controversial. Until the middle of the twentieth century, for example, the Supreme Court left the interpretation of many civil rights guarantees to the states, resulting in hostile and widespread discrimination against minorities.