Florida Civic Literacy Practice Exam

The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution, establishes that federal law takes precedence over state laws whenever there is a conflict between the two. This means that if a state law contradicts a federal law, the federal law is upheld as the governing authority.

This clause was created to ensure a uniform legal framework across all states and to prevent individual states from undermining federal policies or legislation. It is foundational to the structure of American federalism, reaffirming the notion that the federal government holds supreme legal authority in areas where both federal and state laws exist.

The significance of the Supremacy Clause is also reflected in court cases where it has been invoked to resolve disputes over conflicting laws, reinforcing the principle that states cannot enact or enforce laws that are in direct opposition to federal statutes.