Which statement best reflects the Supremacy Clause?

Which statement best reflects the Supremacy Clause?

• A. State constitutions hold authority over federal statutes within their borders
• B. The Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land; federal law overrides state law
• C. The President's orders have the final say in conflicts between federal and state law
• D. Local ordinances may override federal law when popular

Answer: (D)

The Supremacy Clause means national law always takes precedence when there’s a conflict. It sets up a hierarchy where the Constitution sits at the top, followed by federal statutes and treaties, all of which are the supreme law of the land. Because of that, any state or local law that conflicts with federal law must yield to it. This is why federal rules apply uniformly across the states, and why no state or local ordinance can override a federal statute. Presidential orders don’t outrank Congress’s statutes, either. So the statement that describes federal law as supreme and overriding state law best reflects this principle.