Final answer:
The supremacy clause in Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution establishes that the Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the effect of the supremacy clause in Article VI, Clause 2, of the Constitution. The correct answer is that it makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws. To further clarify, when federal and state laws come into conflict, the federal laws, as outlined by the Constitution, take precedence over state laws. This assertion was solidified by the landmark case of McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819, which reinforced the principle that legitimate national laws, under the Constitutional framework, would overrule any conflicting state laws due to the supremacy clause.
Moreover, the Supremacy Clause affirms that one body of laws binds the entire nation, signifying those federal laws, when made in pursuance of the Constitution, are to be considered the supreme law of the land. This national hierarchy is essential to maintaining a unified legal system across the United States. Despite this supremacy, conflicts can still arise, as seen in the differing state and federal regulations on substances like marijuana, demonstrating the complex dance of federalism.