Final answer:
Nullification refers to the idea of states rejecting federal laws they deem unconstitutional. This concept was debated during the early years of the United States, and figures like John C. Calhoun advocated for state nullification as a check on federal power. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 asserted the right of states to nullify federal laws they believed exceeded the limits of the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of states declaring laws null and void or considering succession is a part of the history of nullification in the United States. Nullification refers to the idea that states have the right to reject federal laws they deem unconstitutional. This concept was most prominently debated during the early years of the United States, with figures like John C. Calhoun advocating for state nullification as a check on federal power. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, drafted by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, also asserted the right of states to nullify federal laws they believed exceeded the limits of the Constitution.