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 rooted in the establishment of the Constitution itself, which serves as the foundation for the country's legal system and government. It outlines the framework for how the government operates and delineates the rights of the states and the federal government.

The supremacy clause, found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution, clearly states that the Constitution and federal laws made pursuant to it take precedence over state laws. This means that if any state law conflicts with federal law or the Constitution, the federal law prevails. This doctrine ensures a uniform legal framework across all states, maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that individual rights are upheld consistently throughout the nation.

While documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are significant in American history and governance, they do not hold the same status in terms of being the highest legal authority. The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document that asserts the principles of individual rights and governmental authority but does not function as a legal document. The Bill of Rights, which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protects individual freedoms but is part of the Constitution rather than a separate supreme law. Federal law also operates under the authority of the Constitution