Nullification (Noun)
Meaning 1
The act of nullifying; making null and void; counteracting or overriding the effect or force of something.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The court's decision was a nullification of the previous ruling, rendering it ineffective.
- The new policy was seen as a nullification of the company's previous commitment to sustainability.
- The nullification of the contract meant that both parties were released from their obligations.
- The government's decision to withdraw its support was a nullification of the project's funding.
- The nullification of the law was met with widespread protests from those who had campaigned for its passage.
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Meaning 2
The states'-rights doctrine that a state can refuse to recognize or to enforce a federal law passed by the United States Congress.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The doctrine of nullification was a contentious issue in the early 19th century, with some states arguing that they had the right to reject federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.
- The nullification crisis of 1832 was sparked by South Carolina's refusal to enforce a federal tariff law, which the state claimed was an overreach of federal authority.
- Proponents of nullification argued that it was a necessary check on the power of the federal government, while opponents saw it as a threat to national unity and the rule of law.
- The Supreme Court has consistently rejected the doctrine of nullification, holding that federal laws are supreme and must be enforced by all states.
- The nullification movement gained momentum in the years leading up to the Civil War, as Southern states sought to assert their independence from the federal government and protect their right to own slaves.