What is considered the Supreme Law of the Land?

The Constitution is recognized as the Supreme Law of the Land in the United States. This designation comes from Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution, often referred to as the Supremacy Clause, which establishes that the Constitution and federal laws made pursuant to it take precedence over state laws. This framework is crucial for maintaining a consistent legal system across all states and ensuring that federal law is upheld uniformly.

The Declaration of Independence, while a foundational historical document that articulated the colonies' reasons for seeking independence from Britain, does not function as a governing legal document and therefore does not have the authority or status of the Constitution. Similarly, the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protects individual liberties but is part of the broader Constitution rather than a separate entity that holds supreme legal authority. The Federalist Papers, written to promote the ratification of the Constitution, are important for understanding the intent of the founding fathers, but they do not hold legal standing themselves. Thus, the Constitution's role as the overarching legal framework makes it the correct answer in this context.