Educating About Voting Responsibilities in Your County: The Power of the Tenth Amendment

Morris Patrick III
Oct 21, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Oct 21, 2025

Every election season, people focus heavily on federal politics such as Presidents, Congress, and national issues. But few realize that the real power affecting their daily lives comes from local government including your county, city, and state.

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution makes this clear.“Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people.”

That means you have the right and duty to choose who governs your county and oversees agencies such as DCFS and CPS.

My Experience with County Power

I filed a federal lawsuit against San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County because both counties violated my constitutional rights. Through this process, I learned that many citizens do not understand how much their votes shape local government operations.

When people fail to hold local leaders accountable, corruption, abuse, and injustice grow stronger.

Understanding County Charters as Your Local Constitution

Both Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County have their own Charters, which act like local constitutions. These Charters define the powers and duties of the Board of Supervisors, County Counsel, and other elected officials and require them to protect citizens’ rights and ensure accountability.

Los Angeles County Charter

Article 1, Sections 1 through 2 of the Los Angeles County Charter state: “The County of Los Angeles is a body corporate and politic with all powers given by the California Constitution and laws, exercised only by the Board of Supervisors or by their authorized agents.”(Los Angeles County Charter, 2016) This means the Board of Supervisors holds the highest authority in county matters. They are responsible for overseeing and investigating departments, including DCFS, to ensure lawful and ethical operations.

San Bernardino County Charter

Article 2, Section 206 of the San Bernardino County Charter provides: “The Board of Supervisors has all the powers granted by the Constitution of California, the general law, and this Charter. They must perform duties required by law to ensure effective, transparent, and accountable government.” (San Bernardino County Charter, 2020)

This requires the Board to protect the public interest and investigate misconduct in county departments. Yet when families report CPS or DCFS corruption, these same officials often remain silent and fail to act as required by their own Charters.

How the Tenth Amendment Applies to You

The Tenth Amendment is not just a historical statement. It is your shield and your voice. It ensures that the federal government cannot control local elections or override your state’s authority.

That means you have the power to elect the Board of Supervisors, District Attorney, Sheriff, Judges, and State Legislators who directly influence justice and family rights in your community.

If your county government allows agencies like DCFS or CPS to act without oversight, that is not Washington’s fault. It is a failure of local leadership. The responsibility rests on voters who elect those leaders.

Holding the Board of Supervisors Accountable

Under both county Charters, Supervisors must represent the public interest, oversee departments, and ensure transparency.

Los Angeles County Charter, Section 10, gives the Board full power over county affairs.

San Bernardino County Charter, Section 206 requires Supervisors to act with care, fiscal responsibility, and responsiveness to the public.

Yet both counties have failed to hold DCFS and CPS accountable for abuse, violating their Charters and betraying public trust.

These failures harm not just one family but weaken the entire community.

Why Your Vote Matters

When you vote for county officials, you are deciding who will:

• Investigate child welfare corruption

• Approve or reject local policies

• Control how tax dollars are spent

• Ensure fairness and justice for families

The wrong leaders can destroy lives by refusing to act.

The right leaders can reform broken systems and restore justice.

The Real Problem Lies in the State

Many people blame the federal government for child welfare failures but that is not how our system works.

The federal government funds programs, which are then managed by states and counties.

When a county agency like DCFS violates your rights, it is your local officials who allowed it, not Congress or the President.

That is why understanding your county’s Charter and voting wisely are so important.

Read my related article:

Stop Blaming the Federal System and See the Real Problem in the State

https://www.stolenchildrenbycps.com/post/stop-blaming-the-federal-system-and-see-the-real-problem-in-the-state

Example of Civic Action

On October 21, 2025, I sent a formal email to the Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County Boards of Supervisors, demanding a public response and oversight hearing on DCFS misconduct and constitutional violations.

This action demonstrates how the Tenth Amendment empowers citizens to hold local officials accountable.

Read the full email here:

Immediate Demand for Public Response and Oversight Hearing on DCFS Misconduct and Constitutional Violations