Final answer:
Article VI of the Constitution, known as the 'Supremacy Clause,' establishes the supremacy of the federal government over state laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Article VI of the Constitution, also known as the 'Supremacy Clause,' establishes the supremacy of the federal government. It states that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties made by the federal government are the supreme law of the land. This means that if there is a conflict between state and federal laws, the federal government takes precedence.
This principle was affirmed in the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819, where the Court used the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause to rule that state law could not tax a national institution.
The Supremacy Clause ensures consistency in the application of laws across the nation, preventing conflicts and establishing the federal government as the ultimate authority.