👩🏾‍⚖️ap us government review

National supremacy

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

Declares that the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties take precedence over state constitutions and state laws, as specified in Article VI. Affirmed by cases such as McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), this rule lets federal law resolve conflicts with state law and strengthens centralized authority within the federal system.

AP course connection

Topic 1.8: 1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism

Unit 1

"National supremacy" also found in: