Here's a breakdown:
What it says:
Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution 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."
What it means:
* Federal law prevails: When federal and state laws conflict, federal law takes precedence.
* Judicial enforcement: Judges in every state are obligated to uphold the Constitution and federal laws.
* Treaties as law: Treaties made by the U.S. government have the same legal force as federal laws.
* Limits state power: The Supremacy Clause limits the power of individual states to make laws that contradict federal law.
Examples of the Supremacy Clause in action:
* Civil Rights Act of 1964: This federal law outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, overriding state laws that allowed such discrimination.
* Clean Air Act: This federal law sets national air quality standards, preempting state laws that may be less stringent.
* Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): The Supreme Court ruled that the right to same-sex marriage is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, striking down state laws that prohibited it.
Significance:
The Supremacy Clause is a cornerstone of American federalism. It ensures a unified national legal system and prevents states from undermining federal authority. It also upholds the principle of national sovereignty, allowing the U.S. to act as a single entity on the world stage.