Article I
 
Supremacy

     Section 1.  This Constitution is the supreme law of the State.  An act of government in conflict with this Constitution is invalid to the extent of conflict.

Case annotations:   - Interpretation

If language of a provision of the Kosrae State Constitution is susceptible to more than one meaning, the court should look to the legislative history, including the constitutional convention committee notes and journals, all other provisions of the Constitution, and cases from jurisdictions with similar constitutional provisions, to clarify the definitions of the ambiguous term.  Seymour v. Kosrae, 3 FSM Intrm. 537, 540 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 1988).

The phrase "may assume liability is incurred by the chartered State Government," Kos. Const. art. XVI, §7, is ambiguous because there are no guidelines for when the state is supposed to consent to being sued and when it is not.  Seymour v. Kosrae, 3 FSM Intrm. 537, 541 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 1988).

The movant is burdened with a high standard of proof in establishing the unconstitutionality of either state laws or the Constitution.  Siba v. Sigrah, 4 FSM Intrm. 329, 335 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 1990).

A practice which has been engaged in by a branch of government for a significant period of time is entitled to great weight in establishing the constitutionality of that practice.  Siba v. Sigrah, 4 FSM Intrm. 329, 342 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 1990).