Question

According to the excerpt from the Constitution, how does the United States Government balance international and domestic law?

“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. . . .”

Responses

The president has unlimited power to commit the U.S. to international treaties.
The president has unlimited power to commit the U.S. to international treaties. - no response given

International treaties signed and ratified by the U.S. take legal precedence over domestic law.
International treaties signed and ratified by the U.S. take legal precedence over domestic law. - no response given

The U.S. Supreme Court decides if international treaties violate Americans’ liberties.
The U.S. Supreme Court decides if international treaties violate Americans’ liberties. - no response given

Domestic law in the U.S. takes precedence over international law.
Domestic law in the U.S. takes precedence over international law. - no response given

Answer 1

Best answer: "International treaties signed and ratified by the U.S. take legal precedence over domestic law."

Why: The Supremacy Clause makes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties "the supreme Law of the Land," binding judges in every state and overriding conflicting state law.

Caveats: treaties cannot override the Constitution; the president must obtain Senate consent to ratify treaties; and if a later federal statute conflicts with an earlier treaty, the later law generally controls (the "last-in-time" rule).