The Supremacy Clause has what effect on federal vs state law?

• A. Federal law overrides conflicting state law; ensures national uniform application of federal law.
• B. State law overrides federal law in all cases.
• C. Federal law applies only when state law is silent on the issue.
• D. The clause governs treaties with foreign nations.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that federal law takes precedence over state law when there’s a conflict. The Supremacy Clause places the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties at the top of the legal hierarchy, and it binds judges in every state. So if a state law clashes with federal law, the federal rule governs and the state law is preempted. This guarantees nationwide consistency in how federal rules are applied. Treaties, once ratified, are part of federal law too, so they can preempt conflicting state laws as well. Where federal law doesn’t speak to a issue, states can regulate, but they can’t override federal rules in areas where conflict or field preemption exists.