States assert sovereignty.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS

Believing the federal government too often oversteps its bounds specifically outlined in the Constitution, several states are looking at "sovereignty" resolutions.

"Congress is supposed to serve the states. Instead, they're telling the states how to conduct their internal business," says Oklahoma Senator Randy Brogdon, lead sponsor of his state's sovereignty bill. "We're going to reclaim our rights as a state, and we're going to start governing accordingly."

Brogdon says numerous federal laws, including the Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind and federal homeland security requirements, are examples of how the federal government has overstepped its powers. He said the federal stimulus program is a particularly alarming example.

Several states considered memorials or resolutions this year that assert state sovereignty under the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads, "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."

According to the Tenth Amendment Center, Alaska, Idaho, Louisiana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have passed sovereignty resolutions, and at least 27 other states have considered resolutions. Resolutions have failed to get enough votes in Arkansas, Montana and New Hampshire.

The resolutions are messages to Congress and the president urging them to recognize state sovereignty and...