Federal vs State Law Supremacy
This cluster revolves around debates on whether federal law always trumps state law in the US, states' ability to ignore or refuse enforcement of federal laws, and examples like sanctuary cities, cannabis, and gun regulations. Discussions frequently reference the Supremacy Clause, anti-commandeering, and federal preemption.
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States don't enforce federal law.
Does this mean states can refuse to accept federal laws?
Don't all states have the ability to ignore federal law (enforcement) leading to situations like sanctuary cities and legalized cannabis?
No, but federal law trumps state
States enforce state law, not federal
States enforce state law, not federal
If it's not legal federally it is not legal in any state due to the concept of federal supremacy
How can something be against federal law yet still allowed in some states? I thought federal law applied across the whole USA?
State laws wouldn't apply. Only Federal.
The law is federal. The extent of a state's ability to supersede federal law is an ongoing discussion in the courts.