Article VI: National Supremacy
This article establishes the supremacy of the Constitution. Referred to as the supremacy clause, it declares that all federal laws take precedence over concurrent state laws. Put another way, any local or state law that contradicts federal law is considered unconstitutional. National laws that are parallel to state laws are said to “pre-empt” state law, or take precedence over it.
Article VI also requires every federal and state official to pledge — with an oath — to support and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and bans religion as a qualification to hold any federal or state office.
The Constitution ends with the seventh Article, which simply states, “The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.”
