Understanding the supremacy clause in the U.S. Constitution: Explained or Explaining Article VI of the U.S. Constitution: The Supremacy Clause

Article VI

emphasized by the North; Constitution supersedes state laws”

Article VI of the United States Constitution establishes the supremacy of the federal law over state law. It is commonly referred to as the Supremacy Clause.

The Clause outlines the concept that the federal government and its laws have authority over the state governments and their laws. It specifically states:

“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.”

This means that any federal law enacted in accordance with the Constitution, and any treaty entered into by the federal government, automatically becomes the highest law in the land. No state law can supersede or contradict these federal laws.

The Supremacy Clause was included in the Constitution to address the weaknesses of the previous governing document, the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, states had more power than the federal government, which led to conflicts and challenges in enforcing national laws. The Supremacy Clause sought to rectify this imbalance of power by granting ultimate authority to the federal government.

The significance of Article VI cannot be overstated, as it serves as a cornerstone of the American system of government. By establishing the supremacy of the federal government over state governments, it ensures that the Constitution and federal laws are applied consistently across the entire country, regardless of state or regional differences.

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