Which statement describes how the Supremacy Clause affects conflicts between federal and state law?

• A. State law prevails in conflicts.
• B. The federal government has no power over states in conflicts.
• C. A court decides which law applies on a case-by-case basis.
• D. Federal law prevails in conflicts due to the Supremacy Clause.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that federal law wins when it conflicts with state law. The Supremacy Clause makes the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties the supreme law of the land. So, if a state law clashes with a valid federal law, the state law is overridden to the extent of the conflict. This principle, known as preemption, helps keep nationwide standards consistent in areas where Congress has authority. Courts handle the details of applying preemption to specific cases, but the overall rule is that federal law prevails.