When a government has the power to tax the people directly, it has the power to take one’s property and give it to another. When a private citizens takes property that belongs to his neighbor, he has commited a crime. When the government takes the property on an individual, they are merely exercising one of the powers granted to them by the Constitution.

The Founding Fathers prohibited Congress from levying a direct unapportioned tax on the people. They understood that if the people were responsible to pay taxes directly to the central government, the people would be subjects of Congress rather than the King.

Many of the Founding Fathers believed that the taxes that were necessary should not be compulsory. They believed that each of the states should pay their fair share if the cost of financing the central government.

They believed that the states should be assessed an amount based upon their population. They also believed that each state should be responsible to collect the money required from the residents of their states in any manner that they deemed to be most appropriate.

The central government should come up with a budget and each state should be responsible to pay its portion of the cost of doing business. In order to pass the budget the approval of legislatures of two-thirds of the states should be required.

The 10th Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

LEARN MORE

01

Featured Articles

On the Constitution, history, the founders, and analysis of current events.

featured articles

02

Tenther Blog and News

Nullification news, quick takes, history, interviews, podcasts and much more.

tenther blog

03

State of the Nullification Movement

232 pages. History, constitutionality, and application today.

get the report

01

Path to Liberty

Our flagship podcast. Michael Boldin on the constitution, history, and strategy for liberty today

path to liberty

02

Maharrey Minute

The title says it all. Mike Maharrey with a 1 minute take on issues under a 10th Amendment lens. maharrey minute

Tenther Essentials

2-4 minute videos on key Constitutional issues - history, and application today

TENTHER ESSENTIALS

Join TAC, Support Liberty!

Nothing helps us get the job done more than the financial support of our members, from just $2/month!

JOIN TAC

01

The 10th Amendment

History, meaning, and purpose - the "Foundation of the Constitution."

10th Amendment

03

Nullification

Get an overview of the principles, background, and application in history - and today.

nullification