18th and 21st Amendments: States' Rights Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Amendment.Section)

Quote #1

The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. (18.2)

The Constitution was actually intended to guarantee rights rather than curtail them, and generally let the states do things like outlawing theft, murder, and so on. Seriously, murder's only a federal crime under certain specific circumstances (murder for hire, murder by mail, a bunch of others). Destroying mailboxes, stealing livestock, or flying a JetBlue airliner while drunk is a federal crime, but not plain old "I just killed a guy and he's not a judge or cop" murder. Anyway, even though the Amendment overrode state laws about alcohol, it allowed the states to work with the feds to decide how to handle enforcement. Seriously, though, who could compete with the Untouchables?

Quote #2

The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited. (21.2)

In other words, Don't worry, South Carolina. Nobody's gonna make you re-open the saloons. 18 states voted to keep Prohibition, and about two-thirds of them gave their counties and towns a local option. After repeal, 38% of Americans still lived in dry towns (source).