Which clause ensures that national laws override state laws in case of a conflict?

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

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is federal supremacy: when Congress has enacted a valid law and it conflicts with a state law, the federal law wins. This is established by the Supremacy Clause, which says the Constitution and federal statutes (and treaties made under the Constitution) are the supreme law of the land, and judges in every state must follow them. In practice, if a state law contradicts a federal law, the federal provision overrides the state one, ensuring national standards and policies apply uniformly. The clause is what keeps the national government’s laws from being undermined by state laws.

The other clauses don’t establish this ultimate override. The Commerce Clause grants Congress power to regulate interstate and international commerce but doesn’t by itself declare supremacy. The Necessary and Proper Clause allows Congress to create laws needed to execute its powers, but supremacy comes from the text of the Supremacy Clause. The Full Faith and Credit Clause requires states to respect other states’ public acts and records, not to resolve conflicts between federal and state laws.