Supreme law and public obligations
Preserves earlier national debts, establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and valid federal law, and requires constitutional oaths without federal religious tests.
In Simple, Modern English
The new government still owes the debts and commitments made under the Confederation. The Constitution, federal laws made under it, and U.S. treaties are the highest law; state judges must follow them even when state law conflicts. Federal and state legislators and executive and judicial officers must promise to support the Constitution. Religion cannot be a qualification for federal office or public trust.
Important Clauses & Details
Debts and continuity
Adopting a new constitutional system does not erase the United States' earlier debts or engagements.
Supremacy Clause
The Constitution, valid federal statutes, and treaties prevail over conflicting state law. Federal laws must be made pursuant to the Constitution to receive this status.
Oaths and religious tests
Specified federal and state officials must swear or affirm support for the Constitution. Federal offices may not require a religious test.
Where to look: Article 6
Article 6: Existing national debts, the supremacy of the Constitution and valid federal law and treaties, constitutional oaths, and the ban on religious tests for federal office.
Supremacy Clause — Article VI, Clause 2
Article VI, Clause 2 makes the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and U.S. treaties the supreme law of the land. State judges must follow them despite conflicting state law. A federal action that violates the Constitution is not made valid by this clause.
Historical Context
Honoring earlier debts preserved national credibility. The Supremacy Clause prevents states from defeating the new national framework by enacting conflicting laws. The religious-test ban rejects a tradition of limiting officeholding to members of favored faiths.
Supremacy does not make every federal action constitutional. Article VI's religious-test wording addresses federal office; other constitutional protections also constrain religious tests for state office.
Plain-English study paraphrases summarize the text; they are not verbatim translations. Historical provisions and later changes are identified above. Sources: National Archives and Constitution Annotated.