What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution is recognized as the supreme law of the land in the United States. This principle is established by the Supremacy Clause found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution, which states that the Constitution, along with federal laws made pursuant to it, take precedence over any conflicting state laws. This ensures a unified legal framework across the country, establishing that the Constitution serves as the foundation for all legal authority and governance in the U.S.

Other documents, like the Declaration of Independence, while historically significant, do not function as legal frameworks for governance. The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting individual freedoms, but it is part of the Constitution and does not hold supremacy on its own. The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays promoting the Constitution’s ratification, also do not serve as legal documents but rather provide insight and context about the Constitution’s principles and intent. Thus, while all are important to understanding American governance, only the Constitution holds the title of the supreme law of the land.