Government has the authority and the responsibility to protect the public. This authority is given the general title of police powers. Public Health is considered one of the police powers that governments through out the world have. The 10th amendment of the US Constitution reserves all powers not explicitly provided to the federal government for the states. Since Public Health is not explicitly mentioned in the constitution, the authority for public health in the US rests with the States. Massachusetts formally recognizing that responsibility in 1869.