What is the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution?
The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution is an important part of the Constitution that ensures the Constitution and federal laws take precedent over state laws. This clause, located in Article VI, 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.” In other words, the Supremacy Clause ensures that the Constitution and federal laws are the highest law of the land and that state laws must not conflict with it. This means that if federal and state laws disagree, the federal law will take precedence. This means that if a North Carolina state law violates a federal law, the state law is no longer valid. This includes the laws of the United States Congress, since Congress has the authority to pass laws that must be followed in all states. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court and is charged with interpreting the Constitution and any federal laws, so if there is a question about the legality of a state law, the Supreme Court can make the final decision.
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