states' rights

American  

plural noun

1. 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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states' rights British  

plural noun

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

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

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states' rights Cultural  

1. 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.

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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.

Other Word Forms

• states righter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of states' rights

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

states' rights

Friend of Slate Jacob Charles, law professor at Pepperdine University, argues the justices should simply stay out of this dispute and respect states’ rights to rule themselves.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

The author also explores the sleight of intellect practiced by Jefferson, a slave owner who deplored slavery and used his rhetorical skills to cast the cause of states’ rights as a question of liberty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

This should matter to folks on the left and the right, to those who venerate higher education and those who vote in favor of states’ rights against federal overreach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025

Individual rights would have to make room for states' rights; optimism for pessimism; a republic of consumers for an apartheid state; capitalism for feudalism.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2023

Thus the seeds of states’ rights were sown in the hearts of Jean Louise’s generation.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee