Which clause ensures that national law takes precedence over conflicting state law?

• A. Full Faith and Credit Clause.
• B. Supremacy Clause.
• C. Commerce Clause.
• D. Necessary and Proper Clause.

Answer: (B)

The federal government’s laws take priority over state laws when there’s a conflict, and the key rule for that is the Supremacy Clause. Found in Article VI, Clause 2, it declares that the Constitution, federal laws passed under it, and treaties are the supreme law of the land. When a state law clashes with one of those, the federal law overrides the state law, and courts must follow the federal standard. This ensures nationwide consistency in how laws are applied and prevents states from contradicting federal authority in areas Congress has acted upon.

The Full Faith and Credit Clause mainly requires states to respect other states’ public acts, records, and judicial proceedings, not to resolve conflicts between state and federal laws. The Commerce Clause defines Congress’s power to regulate trade between states, and the Necessary and Proper Clause allows Congress to enact laws needed to carry out its powers; neither addresses which level of government takes precedence.