What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution is recognized as the supreme law of the land because it establishes the foundational legal framework of the United States. It sets forth the structure of government, delineates powers and responsibilities among branches of government, and outlines the rights of citizens. The supremacy clause, found in Article VI of the Constitution, explicitly states that the Constitution, as well as federal laws made pursuant to it, take precedence over state laws and constitutions. This principle ensures a unified legal system across all states, reinforcing the Constitution's role as the highest authority in the U.S. legal hierarchy.

In contrast, the Declaration of Independence serves as a historical document that justified the colonies' separation from British rule but does not function as a governing document. The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee specific individual rights, but it is part of the Constitution itself and does not stand alone as the supreme law. State constitutions, while important for governing individual states, operate under the framework of the U.S. Constitution and cannot supersede it.