What establishes the authority of the federal government over states?

The Constitution establishes the authority of the federal government over the states through its framework that delineates the powers and responsibilities of both the national government and the states. Specifically, Article VI of the Constitution includes the Supremacy Clause, which asserts that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties made under its authority shall be the supreme law of the land. This means that when state laws conflict with federal laws, federal law prevails.

The Constitution was designed to create a strong central government while also allowing states to maintain certain powers. However, it clearly establishes that the federal government has ultimate authority in areas as defined by the document itself.

The other options, such as the Declaration of Independence, primarily set forth the philosophical foundations for independence and governance but do not establish a framework for federal authority. The Bill of Rights serves to protect individual liberties and does not define the balance of power between states and the federal government. The Articles of Confederation, while an early attempt at national governance, ultimately proved to be ineffective and were replaced by the Constitution, which provides a more robust structure of federal authority.