Legal Definitions - nullification doctrine

The nullification doctrine is a theory that was supported by southern states before the Civil War. It advocates for a state's right to declare a federal lawunconstitutional and therefore void.

For example, in 1832, South Carolina passed an ordinance that declared the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and unenforceable within the state. This was based on the nullification doctrine, which argued that states had the power to nullify federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional.

The nullification doctrine was a controversial issue that ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. It challenged the authority of the federal government and raised questions about the balance of power between the states and the federal government.