Article Six of the United States Constitution facts for kids

Article Six of the U.S. Constitution is an important part of the United States' main rulebook. It explains that the Constitution, along with laws and agreements (called treaties) made by the U.S. government, are the highest laws in the country. This means they are more important than any state laws.

Article Six also says that the U.S. government will pay back any money it owed before the Constitution was written. Finally, it makes sure that people who work for the government promise to follow the Constitution. But it also clearly states that no one can be forced to believe in a certain religion to hold a government job.

What Article Six Says

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.

Paying Old Debts

Before the U.S. Constitution, the United States had a different set of rules called the Articles of Confederation. These Articles created a loose group of states.

The first part of Article Six says that the U.S. government will still pay all the money it owed from before the Constitution was created. It means that these old debts are just as important under the new Constitution as they were under the old Articles of Confederation. This showed that the new government was responsible and trustworthy.

The Supreme Law of the Land

The second part of Article Six is often called the "Supremacy Clause." It explains that certain laws are the "supreme" (most powerful) laws in the United States. These include:

• The U.S. Constitution itself
• Laws made by the U.S. government
• Treaties (agreements with other countries) made by the U.S. government

Because these laws are supreme, they are the most important ones in the country.

• State courts must follow them.
• State constitutions cannot go against the U.S. Constitution.
• If a federal (U.S. government) law and a state law disagree, the federal law wins.
• Even the President of the United States must obey the Constitution.

For example, the Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution. It gives people the right to freedom of religion. Because the Constitution is the supreme law:

• No state court can stop someone from practicing their religion.
• No state can make a law saying certain religions are illegal.
• The President cannot refuse to hire someone for a government job because of their religion.

Important Court Cases

Several important cases decided by the Supreme Court helped make the Supremacy Clause even clearer.

• Marbury v. Madison (1803): The Supreme Court decided it could check if state court decisions followed the supreme law. This power is called judicial review. It means the Supreme Court can review laws and actions to see if they are constitutional.

• Martin v. Hunter's Lessee (1816): The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was more powerful than state supreme courts. This case showed that the U.S. Supreme Court has the final say on legal issues involving federal laws. If a state court and the U.S. Supreme Court disagree, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision is the supreme law.

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): The Supreme Court ruled that states cannot control or tax federal organizations. The state of Maryland tried to tax a federal bank. The Court said that states cannot tax federal property. This was another example of federal law being more powerful than state laws.

• Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): The state of New York gave one person a special right (a monopoly) to run a steamboat business on the Hudson River. But another person had a permit from the federal government for the same thing. The Supreme Court decided that the federal permit was more powerful than the state monopoly. This case showed that federal laws about trade are supreme.

• Reid v. Covert (1957): The Supreme Court ruled that treaties cannot give any part of the U.S. government powers that the Constitution doesn't allow. This case proved that the Constitution truly limits all government power, even when it comes to international agreements.

Oaths and No Religious Tests

The last part of Article Six is sometimes called the "No Religious Test Clause."

This part says that certain people must promise (swear an oath or affirmation) to support the Constitution. These people include:

• Members of the U.S. Congress (Senators and Representatives)
• Members of state legislatures
• The President, Vice President, and people who work for them
• Judges

Congress decides the exact words for this oath. However, they cannot make a person swear that they follow a certain religion. This means no "religious test" can be required to hold a public job in the United States.

While the oath might include words like "so help me God," a person cannot be forced to say them. No one can be required to say or swear anything about religion to work for the U.S. government.

A Famous Example: John F. Kennedy

During the 1960 presidential election, John F. Kennedy was running for President. He was a Catholic, and if elected, he would be the first Catholic president. Some people wondered if Americans would require a "religious test" for their President, meaning they might only want a Protestant leader.

On September 12, 1960, Kennedy spoke about this issue. He said he did not believe in requiring a religious test, even indirectly. He explained that he was the Democratic Party's candidate who happened to be Catholic. He made it clear that his church did not speak for him on public matters, and he would make decisions based on what he believed was best for the country, not based on religious pressure.

Kennedy stated that if the election was decided because 40 million Americans (Catholics) lost their chance to be President, then the whole nation would lose. Kennedy won the election, showing that Americans did not require a religious test for the presidency.

Related pages

• Separation of church and state
• Judicial review

See also

In Spanish: Artículo VI de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos para niños