The FINAL WORD of the Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, the 10th Amendment, is the PEOPLE.

The People, not the governments.

"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 the people."

Or the people.

OR the people.

OR

This is a big "OR." With this Amendment the Founding Fathers created THREE separate and distinct political entities.

1. The Federal government

2. The State governments

3. The People

Under the Constitution the PEOPLE have powers unconnected to the Federal and State governments.

This Amendment is especially helpful in the interpretation of the rest of the Constitution, particularly the Second Amendment:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The Right of the PEOPLE.

Which People?

The SAME People referred to in the Tenth Amendment, obviously.

A People separate and distinct from the Federal and State governments.

A People who have the RIGHT to form a Militia that is INDEPENDENT from Federal and State control. A Militia whose purpose is to protect the People FROM the government.