What clause makes federal law supreme over state law?

• A. The Elastic Clause
• B. The Supremacy Clause
• C. The Due Process Clause
• D. The Equal Protection Clause

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the Supremacy Clause. It says that the Constitution, federal laws made under it, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, so judges in every state must follow them even if state laws or constitutions conflict. This clause creates the legal hierarchy that makes federal law prevail when there’s a dispute or inconsistency with state law, as long as the federal action is within Congress’s constitutional powers. The Elastic Clause, not about hierarchy, allows Congress to pass laws necessary and proper to carry out its powers. The Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses protect individual rights and fair treatment, but they don’t establish which laws trump others.