Federal Supremacy

Definition

Federal supremacy refers to the principle that the federal government's authority is superior to that of the states, as established by the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution. This doctrine affirms the national government's power to override state laws and policies when they conflict with federal law.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution establishes federal supremacy, stating that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the 'supreme law of the land'.
2. Federal supremacy was a key issue during the Nullification Crisis, where South Carolina attempted to nullify a federal tariff law within its borders.
3. The Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) affirmed federal supremacy by striking down a state's attempt to tax a federal institution (the Second Bank of the United States).
4. The Bank War between President Andrew Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States was a conflict over the federal government's authority to charter a national bank, which Jackson viewed as an overreach of federal power.
5. The principle of federal supremacy was further solidified after the Civil War, with the passage of the 14th Amendment and the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Due Process Clause as applying the Bill of Rights to the states.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of federal supremacy was central to the Nullification Crisis.
  • The Nullification Crisis arose when South Carolina attempted to nullify a federal tariff law within its borders, claiming the right to override federal authority. This challenged the principle of federal supremacy, which holds that the national government's power is superior to the states. The crisis highlighted the ongoing tension between state's rights and the supremacy of the federal Constitution, laws, and treaties. President Andrew Jackson's firm stance in support of federal supremacy ultimately led to the resolution of the crisis, reaffirming the national government's authority over the states.
• Analyze how the Bank War between President Andrew Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States related to the concept of federal supremacy.
  • The Bank War was a conflict over the federal government's authority to charter a national bank, which Jackson viewed as an overreach of federal power. Jackson's opposition to the bank was rooted in his belief that the national government should have limited powers, in contrast with the principle of federal supremacy. The Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) had previously affirmed the federal government's right to establish a national bank, which Jackson sought to undermine through his veto of the bank's recharter and other actions. The Bank War demonstrated the ongoing debate over the boundaries of federal and state authority, with Jackson championing state's rights against the supremacy of the national government.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the principle of federal supremacy on the relationship between the federal government and the states, particularly in the aftermath of the Civil War.
  • The principle of federal supremacy was further solidified in the aftermath of the Civil War, with the passage of the 14th Amendment and the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Due Process Clause as applying the Bill of Rights to the states. This significantly expanded the federal government's power and authority over the states, limiting the ability of states to infringe on individual rights and liberties. The Supreme Court's rulings, such as in the Slaughterhouse Cases, also upheld the supremacy of the federal Constitution and laws, reinforcing the national government's dominance over the states. This shift towards greater federal power had lasting implications for the balance of power between the federal and state governments, as well as the protection of civil rights and liberties for all citizens, regardless of their state of residence.

Related terms

Nullification: The act of a state declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional and therefore null and void within the state's borders.

Interposition: The act of a state placing itself between the federal government and its citizens, in an attempt to protect the state's rights and interests.

Dual Sovereignty: The concept that the federal and state governments have separate and distinct spheres of authority, with neither being supreme over the other.