What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution is referred to as the supreme law of the land because it establishes the foundational legal framework and principles that govern the United States, and it holds authority over all other laws and agreements in the country. This status is explicitly set forth in Article VI, Section 2, which states, “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."

This definition not only reinforces the role of the Constitution as the primary source of legal authority but also ensures that no law or agreement can supersede it. Other documents, like the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights, while extremely important in American history and government, do not carry the same legal standing. The Declaration is primarily a statement of principles and a justification for independence, and the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, serves to protect individual liberties within the framework established by the Constitution itself. The Articles of Confederation, meanwhile, were the first governing document of the United States but were ultimately replaced by the Constitution due to their weaknesses in establishing a strong federal government.