Article VI - U.S. Constitution

Article VI

Article Text | Annotations  

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article VI Annotations

Article VI - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, and Oaths of Office

• Clause 1. Validity of Prior Debts and Engagements  
• Clause 2. Supremacy of the Constitution, Laws and Treaties  
• National Supremacy  
  • Marshall's Interpretation of the National Supremacy Clause  
  • Task of the Supreme Court Under the Clause: Preemption  
  • The Operation of the Supremacy Clause  
    • Federal Immunity Laws and State Courts  
    • Priority of National Claims Over State Claims  
  • Obligation of State Courts Under the Supremacy Clause  
  • Supremacy Clause Versus the Tenth Amendment  
  • Federal Instrumentalities and Personnel and State Police Power  
  • The Doctrine of Federal Exemption From State Taxation  
    • McCulloch v. Maryland  
    • Applicability of Doctrine to Federal Securities  
    • Taxation of Government Contractors  
    • Taxation of Salaries of Employees of Federal Agencies  
    • Ad Valorem Taxes Under the Doctrine  
    • Federal Property and Functions  
    • Federally Chartered Finance Agencies: Statutory Exemptions  
    • Royalties  
    • Immunity of Lessees of Indian Lands  
  • Summation and Evaluation  
• Clause 3. Oath of Office  
• Power of Congress in Respect to Oaths  
• National Duties of State Officers