Interposition, or Nullification, has a long history in American Federalism. It proclaims that:
"The law in question is void and inoperative, or "non-effective," within the boundaries of that state; or, in other words, not a law as far as the state is concerned. Implied in such legislation is that the state apparatus will enforce the act against all violations – in order to protect the liberty of the state’s citizens."Back in 1798, both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison helped write pieces of legislation, the Kentucky Resolution of 1798 and the Virginia Resolution of 1798, respectively. These two resolutions nullified the Alien and Sedition Acts,
"a set of 4 laws that... gave the President the power to detain, imprison, or deport individuals believed to be 'dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.' The Sedition Act made it a crime to publish 'false, scandalous, and malicious writing' against the federal government. In fact, there were Republican journalists that were prosecuted and convicted under this law."
Interposition, for liberty's sake, is a great equalizer against Federal abuses. For example, State legislators and judges may simply nullify these odious laws by overturning any proposed National Health Care Plan, like Arizona attempted to do. In the past, nullification has resolved local conflicts, abolished slavery, and even set defendants free by jurors in court cases.