What is the highest law of the land?

The U.S. Constitution is recognized as the highest law of the land, establishing the foundational legal framework for the United States government and its operations. This supremacy is reinforced by the Supremacy Clause found in Article VI, Clause 2, which states that the Constitution, along with federal laws and treaties made under its authority, shall be the supreme law of the land. This means that if there are conflicts between federal law and state laws or constitutions, the federal law prevails.

State constitutions, while they govern matters within their respective states, cannot override federal law or the U.S. Constitution. Similarly, federal statutes are subject to the Constitution; if they are found to be unconstitutional, they cannot be enforced. International treaties must also align with the Constitution, reinforcing the latter's role as the ultimate authority. Thus, the U.S. Constitution's status as the supreme authority in the hierarchy of legal documents fully supports its designation as the highest law of the land.