What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution is recognized as the supreme law of the land because it establishes the fundamental framework for the United States government and its legal system. It outlines the structure of government, the powers of each branch, and the rights of the individual, serving as the highest legal authority in the country. All laws made by states or by the federal government must conform to the Constitution; if they do not, they can be deemed unconstitutional and therefore invalid.

The Bill of Rights is a crucial component of the Constitution as it comprises the first ten amendments and enumerates specific individual rights and liberties, but it does not constitute the entire framework of law. The Declaration of Independence, while an important historical document that declared the nation’s intent to separate from British rule, does not serve as law and therefore does not hold the same legal authority. The Federalist Papers are a series of essays written to promote ratification of the Constitution; they are influential but are not legal documents themselves. The Constitution, as the supreme law, encompasses all of these in terms of legal authority and governance.