Article VI establishes that the Constitution, U.S. laws, and treaties made under the authority of the United States are the Nation’s supreme law and are binding on state judges notwithstanding any state constitution or law. Article VI also expressly provides that the new U.S. government established under the Constitution remained bound by the obligations of the predecessor governments established under the Articles of Confederation and Continental Congresses. In addition, Article VI provides that federal and state executive and judicial officers as well as members of federal and state legislatures shall take an oath to support the Constitution. Finally, Article VI expressly bars using religious tests as a qualification to hold “any Office or public Trust under the United States.” 1

Footnotes

1

U.S. Const. art. VI.