When a federal law is believed to infringe on the rights of states, they have the principle to reject it. This means that states can refuse to follow or enforce a federal law they believe is unconstitutional or violates their powers.
Related terms
Nullification: The act of declaring a federal law null and void within a state's borders.
States' Rights: The idea that states have certain powers and authority separate from the federal government.
Supremacy Clause: A clause in the U.S. Constitution that establishes federal laws as supreme over state laws when there is a conflict.