Article VI: National Supremacy
Article VI establishes the principle of national supremacy in the American federal system. The Supremacy Clause states that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties are "the supreme law of the land." This means federal law overrides state law when they conflict.
Article VI also requires that federal officials, state officials, and legislators take oaths to support the Constitution. This ensures that everyone who exercises governmental power commits to upholding the constitutional system rather than their personal preferences or state interests.
The article also contains a crucial prohibition on religious tests for office: no religious requirement can ever be imposed for any federal office position. This was revolutionary in an era when many states had religious requirements for voting and officeholding.
Article VI: National Supremacy
Article VI establishes the principle of national supremacy in the American federal system. The Supremacy Clause states that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties are "the supreme law of the land." This means federal law overrides state law when they conflict.
Article VI also requires that federal officials, state officials, and legislators take oaths to support the Constitution. This ensures that everyone who exercises governmental power commits to upholding the constitutional system rather than their personal preferences or state interests.
The article also contains a crucial prohibition on religious tests for office: no religious requirement can ever be imposed for any federal office position. This was revolutionary in an era when many states had religious requirements for voting and officeholding.
Article VI: National Supremacy
Article VI establishes the principle of national supremacy in the American federal system. The Supremacy Clause states that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties are "the supreme law of the land." This means federal law overrides state law when they conflict.
Article VI also requires that federal officials, state officials, and legislators take oaths to support the Constitution. This ensures that everyone who exercises governmental power commits to upholding the constitutional system rather than their personal preferences or state interests.
The article also contains a crucial prohibition on religious tests for office: no religious requirement can ever be imposed for any federal office position. This was revolutionary in an era when many states had religious requirements for voting and officeholding.