In a constitutional democracy with a written constitution, which statement best describes constitutional supremacy?

• A. The constitution is the highest law; statutes must conform to it, and constitutions trump conflicting ordinary laws.
• B. Statutes are the highest law and trump the constitution.
• C. The executive can override the constitution by decree.
• D. International law automatically overrides national law.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that in a written constitutional democracy, the constitution is the highest authority. Everything else—especially ordinary laws passed by the legislature—must fit within its pages. If a statute clashes with a constitutional provision, that conflict is resolved in favor of the constitution, and the statute can be struck down or read in a way that avoids the conflict. This prerogative of judicial review and the requirement that changes to the fundamental legal order follow formal constitutional or amendment procedures embody constitutional supremacy. So the best description is that the constitution is the highest law, statutes must conform to it, and constitutions prevail over conflicting ordinary laws. Statements suggesting the legislature or the executive can override the constitution, or that international law automatically overrides national law, do not align with this principle.