The Supremacy Clause is a clause found in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, and it establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority, shall be the supreme law of the land, and thus no state or local law can violate these higher laws.
What Does the Supremacy Clause Do?
The Supremacy Clause is essentially what keeps federal laws in place and upheld throughout the entire country. It prevents diverse, diverse state and local laws from infringing on national laws and enables federal statutes to preempt contrary state laws, safeguarding the interests of the federal government.
Case Study Examples of the Supremacy Clause
An example of the supremacy clause in action can be found in the 2019 Supreme Court case Rucho v. Common Cause. The ruling in this case declared that partisan gerrymandering is a political question, and thus does not have an equal-protection violation – that is, a matter of state law – and the federal courts are not able to review it. This ruling is based on the supremacy clause, and demonstrates how state laws must adhere to the higher laws of the land as established by the Constitution.
In another, more recent example, the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled in a case challenging a Louisiana abortion law that was found to be unconstitutional because it was in violation of Roe v. Wade. This ruling upheld the supremacy of the federal court decision, thereby upholding the Supremacy Clause.
What Does the Supremacy Clause Mean for You?
The Supremacy Clause holds immense importance for the operation of the U.S. government. It ensures the primacy of federal law over state and local law, and helps to ensure that states and citizens abide by federal laws over their own, thus preserving a unified legal system across the nation. As a result, it is important to be aware of the implications of the Supremacy Clause, and to understand how it can affect your business dealings and other activities.