Question

Held that a state could declare a law null and void if that law was harmful to the state.

Ordinance of Nullification
Doctrine of Nullification

Answer 1

The statement describes the Doctrine of Nullification — the political theory that a state can declare a federal law void within its borders if the state considers that law harmful or unconstitutional.

Brief context:
- The doctrine was articulated by proponents such as John C. Calhoun (building on earlier state-rights arguments like the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions).
- In 1832 South Carolina applied the idea in practice with its Ordinance of Nullification, which declared the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void in the state.
- The crisis ended when Congress passed a Compromise Tariff and President Andrew Jackson secured passage of the Force Bill authorizing enforcement of federal law; the ordinance was repealed.
- Constitutionally, nullification conflicts with the Supremacy Clause and has been rejected by federal authorities and later court rulings.