Final answer:
The Supremacy Clause, located in Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, above all state laws. This clause plays a critical role in ensuring federal laws prevail over state laws in case of conflict, while judges in every state must obey the Constitution even if state laws are contradictory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clause that provides that the Constitution shall be the supreme law of the land is known as the Supremacy Clause. This clause is located in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution. The Supremacy Clause asserts that the Constitution, along with federal laws and treaties that are made pursuant to it, is the highest law and takes precedence over any conflicting state laws. The clause ensures that in the case of conflict between federal and state laws, the federal laws will triumph, provided they are in compliance with the Constitution. Additionally, it requires all judges, at every state level, to adhere to the Constitution, even if state laws or constitutions disagree.
The importance of the Supremacy Clause was to establish a clear and definitive hierarchy of laws, addressing the weakness in federal power under the previous Articles of Confederation. It played an essential role in unifying national governance and ensuring that federal law was consistently applied throughout all states. The necessary and proper clause, which is part of Article I, further expands Congressional power to pass laws that are necessary to execute the foregoing powers vested in the U.S. Government.
The "full faith and credit" clause, found in Article IV Section 1 of the Constitution, pertains to the states' obligations to respect the court decisions of other states. Whereas the due process clause can be found in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and serves as a protection for individuals against arbitrary government actions. Lastly, powers reserved for the states are delineated by the Tenth Amendment, not by the Supremacy Clause or the full faith and credit clause.