Which statement best describes the source of federal authority?

Which statement best describes the source of federal authority?

• A. The Constitution
• B. The State Constitution
• C. Local Ordinances
• D. International Law

Answer: (A)

The federal government derives its power from the U.S. Constitution. It creates the framework of national authority and lists powers the federal government may exercise, with the Supremacy Clause making federal law the supreme law of the land when it operates within those powers. State constitutions establish and limit the authority of state governments, not the federal government. Local ordinances come from cities and counties and cover local issues. International law by itself does not grant domestic authority; for this country, any international obligations must be implemented through constitutional and statutory processes. In practice, policing and federal actions flow from the Constitution and federal statutes, and federal law can override state or local rules when constitutionally authorized.

The federal government derives its power from the U.S. Constitution. It creates the framework of national authority and lists powers the federal government may exercise, with the Supremacy Clause making federal law the supreme law of the land when it operates within those powers. State constitutions establish and limit the authority of state governments, not the federal government. Local ordinances come from cities and counties and cover local issues. International law by itself does not grant domestic authority; for this country, any international obligations must be implemented through constitutional and statutory processes. In practice, policing and federal actions flow from the Constitution and federal statutes, and federal law can override state or local rules when constitutionally authorized.