What does the Supremacy Clause establish about the Constitution?

• A. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land
• B. State laws override federal laws
• C. Treaties override the Constitution
• D. Local ordinances supersede federal laws

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that the Constitution is the highest legal authority in the United States. The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, declares that the Constitution, along with federal laws made in pursuit of it and treaties, shall be the supreme Law of the Land. That means when there’s a conflict, federal law takes precedence over state laws, and treaties are binding as long as they conform to the Constitution. So the correct statement reflects that the Constitution is the ultimate standard by which all laws are measured. The other choices describe situations that the Supremacy Clause does not permit: state laws cannot override federal law, treaties do not outrank the Constitution itself, and local ordinances cannot supersede federal law.