Question

Supreme Court Rulings Involving the Supremacy Clause

Year
Case
Court Ruling
1982 Edgar v. Mite Corporation
State laws are void when they conflict with federal laws.
1992 Stone v. City and County of San Francisco Federal courts can make rulings that override state laws.
2000 Crosby v. National Foreign Trade Council Congress can override state laws to accomplish its goals
40)
4) Based on the data table, how does the balance of power in government change when the Supremacy Clause is applied?
A) The powers of both the state and national governments are reduced.
B)
The powers of both the state and national governments are balanced.
C) The power of the national government is reduced; the power of the states is increased.
D) The power of the national government is increased; the power of the states is reduced.

Answer 1

Answer:D) The power of the national government is increased, and the power of the states is reduced.

Explanation:D) The Supremacy Clause establishes that federal law is the supreme law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws. Supreme Court rulings, such as those mentioned in the table, have consistently upheld the principle that federal law takes precedence over state laws in cases of conflict. This reinforces the authority of the national government and limits the power of individual states in areas where federal laws apply.