The Constitution of the United States gives the Supreme Court of the United States the power to review State laws and actions through the Supremacy Clause.
Here's why:
1. The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution, establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land. This means that in case of a conflict between federal and state laws, federal law prevails.
2. When the Supreme Court reviews State laws and actions, it ensures that they are in alignment with the Constitution. If a State law or action is found to be in conflict with the Constitution, the Supreme Court has the authority to declare it unconstitutional through the process of judicial review.
3. Judicial review, a power not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but established through landmark cases like Marbury v. Madison (1803), allows the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and determine the constitutionality of laws and actions at both the federal and State levels.
Therefore, it is the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution that empowers the Supreme Court of the United States to review State laws and actions to uphold the principles and values enshrined in the Constitution.
