American Government / Unit 2 Gov 064 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Supremacy Clause
Captions available
The idea
The supremacy clause, in Article VI, declares the Constitution and federal law made under it the supreme law of the land.
In practice
When a state law clashes with a constitutional federal law, the federal law prevails.
Where people slip
The clause binds the country to one body of law; subordinating states was not its stated intent.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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