Under which clause is federal law supreme over state law when there is a conflict?

Under which clause is federal law supreme over state law when there is a conflict?

• A. States may ignore federal laws they dislike
• B. Federal law is supreme; federal over state
• C. Only constitutional amendments override federal law
• D. Federal law is subordinate to state law

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is the Supremacy Clause. It sits in Article VI and states that the Constitution, federal statutes made under the Constitution, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, binding on all state judges and governments. When a federal law conflicts with a state law, the federal rule wins, and state law is preempted to that extent. This is what makes federal law supreme over state law.

The essential idea is the Supremacy Clause. It sits in Article VI and states that the Constitution, federal statutes made under the Constitution, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, binding on all state judges and governments. When a federal law conflicts with a state law, the federal rule wins, and state law is preempted to that extent. This is what makes federal law supreme over state law.