What is the Supremacy Clause and its effect?

• A. Constitution is the supreme law; federal laws trump state laws when conflict occurs.
• B. States have final say in constitutional matters.
• C. Treaties outrank the Constitution.
• D. Local ordinances override federal statutes.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that national authority stands above states. The Supremacy Clause says the Constitution is the highest law, and laws passed by Congress and treaties made under the Constitution are the next highest laws. When a federal rule conflicts with a state rule, the federal rule wins, and state judges must follow it. This keeps national standards consistent across all states. Treaties are federal law too, but they must fit within the Constitution and cannot override it. So the best description is that the Constitution is the supreme law, and federal laws trump state laws when there’s a conflict.