The supremacy clause, found in Article VI of the US Constitution, establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law in cases where they conflict. This helps to protect individual rights and liberties by ensuring that federal laws, including those that safeguard civil rights and liberties, take precedence over potentially conflicting state laws. It prevents states from passing laws that infringe upon the freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Constitution, providing a uniform standard of protection for all citizens. By establishing federal laws as the ultimate authority, the supremacy clause helps to create a system that upholds the fundamental rights and liberties of individuals across the country.
