Which constitutional principle establishes that federal law prevails over conflicting state laws?

Which constitutional principle establishes that federal law prevails over conflicting state laws?

• A. The Supremacy Clause
• B. The Commerce Clause
• C. The Equal Protection Clause
• D. The Due Process Clause

Answer: (A)

Federal law’s supremacy over conflicting state laws is established by the Supremacy Clause. Located in Article VI, Clause 2, it declares that the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, and judges in every state must follow them even if state laws or constitutions say otherwise. When a valid federal law directly conflicts with a state law, the federal law governs and the state law is preempted to that extent. The other options address different issues—Commerce Clause concerns Congress’s power to regulate trade, while Equal Protection and Due Process focus on protecting individual rights within state action—not on which level of government overrides the other.

Federal law’s supremacy over conflicting state laws is established by the Supremacy Clause. Located in Article VI, Clause 2, it declares that the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, and judges in every state must follow them even if state laws or constitutions say otherwise. When a valid federal law directly conflicts with a state law, the federal law governs and the state law is preempted to that extent. The other options address different issues—Commerce Clause concerns Congress’s power to regulate trade, while Equal Protection and Due Process focus on protecting individual rights within state action—not on which level of government overrides the other.