<P> Under Article IV, each state is guaranteed a form of government that is grounded in republican principles, such as the consent of the governed . This guarantee has long been at the fore - front of the debate about the rights of citizens vis - à - vis the government . States are also guaranteed protection from invasion, and, upon the application of the state legislature (or executive, if the legislature cannot be convened), from domestic violence . This provision was discussed during the 1967 Detroit riot, but was not invoked . </P> <P> The Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2) establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority, constitute the supreme law of the land . It provides that state courts are bound by the supreme law; in case of conflict between federal and state law, the federal law must be applied . Even state constitutions are subordinate to federal law . </P> <P> States' rights are understood mainly with reference to the Tenth Amendment . The Constitution delegates some powers to the national government, and it forbids some powers to the states . Any powers not granted to the federal government or forbidden to the states are reserved for states and the people by the Tenth Amendment . Powers of the U.S Congress are enumerated in Article I, Section 8, for example, the power to declare war . Making treaties is one power forbidden to the states, and is listed among other such powers in Article I, Section 10 . </P> <P> As prescribed by Article I of the Constitution, which establishes the U.S. Congress, each state is represented in the Senate (irrespective of population size) by two senators, and each is guaranteed at least one representative in the House . Both senators and representatives are chosen in direct popular elections in the various states . (Prior to 1913, senators were elected by state legislatures .) There are presently 100 senators, who are elected at - large to staggered terms of six years, with one - third of them being chosen every two years . Representatives are elected at - large or from single - member districts to terms of two years (not staggered). The size of the House--presently 435 voting members--is set by federal statute . Seats in the House are distributed among the states in proportion to the most recent constitutionally mandated decennial census . The borders of these districts are established by the states individually through a process called redistricting, and within each state all districts are required to have approximately equal populations . </P>

How many us states have two word names