Supremacy Clause
Overview
The Supremacy Clause is a part of the United States Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2) that establishes federal law as supreme over state laws when there is a conflict between the two. This principle ensures the uniformity and supremacy of federal law across all states in the nation.
Key Themes
- Constitutional Supremacy: The Supremacy Clause reinforces the idea that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, providing a framework for resolving conflicts between different levels of government.
- Federalism: This clause promotes balance in federalism by allowing federal laws to prevail when state laws hinder or contradict national interests, ensuring consistency across states while preserving state autonomy in other areas.
- Judicial Review: The Supremacy Clause has been instrumental in establishing the power of judicial review, enabling courts to declare state laws unconstitutional and inapplicable when they conflict with federal law.
Significance
The Supremacy Clause plays a role in maintaining unity and consistency in the United States legal system. By ensuring that federal law prevails over state law, this clause helps avoid discrepancies and conflicts between states regarding issues of national importance. Examples include landmark cases such as Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), where the Supreme Court used the Supremacy Clause to strike down a New York state law restricting steamboat navigation, reaffirming federal authority over interstate commerce.