Name the clause that resolves conflicts by giving priority to federal law.

Name the clause that resolves conflicts by giving priority to federal law.

• A. Commerce Clause
• B. Elastic Clause
• C. Due Process Clause
• D. Supremacy Clause

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that federal law wins when there’s a clash with state law. This is the Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution. It states that the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, and judges in every state are bound by them. So, when a state statute or policy conflicts with federal law, federal law governs and the state law is preempted. That’s why this is the best answer. The other clauses set out powers or protections (for example, which Congress may regulate under the Commerce Clause, or that laws must be within the powers and be reasonable under the Necessary and Proper or Elastic Clauses, or that individuals must receive due process). They don’t establish a rule about which level of law takes precedence in a conflict, whereas the Supremacy Clause does. An example is a federal environmental regulation that preempts a conflicting state standard, ensuring uniform nationwide rules.

The main idea is that federal law wins when there’s a clash with state law. This is the Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution. It states that the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, and judges in every state are bound by them. So, when a state statute or policy conflicts with federal law, federal law governs and the state law is preempted.

That’s why this is the best answer. The other clauses set out powers or protections (for example, which Congress may regulate under the Commerce Clause, or that laws must be within the powers and be reasonable under the Necessary and Proper or Elastic Clauses, or that individuals must receive due process). They don’t establish a rule about which level of law takes precedence in a conflict, whereas the Supremacy Clause does. An example is a federal environmental regulation that preempts a conflicting state standard, ensuring uniform nationwide rules.