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Simple English definitions for legal terms
supreme law of the land
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A quick definition of supreme law of the land:
Supreme Law of the Land: The supreme law of the land is the highest law in the United States. It includes the U.S. Constitution, laws made by Congress, and treaties made by the government. This means that these laws are more important than any state laws or rules. The Supremacy Clause in the Constitution says that the supreme law of the land must be followed by everyone, even if state laws conflict with it.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: The supreme law of the land refers to the highest law in the United States. It includes:
- The U.S. Constitution
- Acts of Congress made in accordance with the U.S. Constitution
- U.S. treaties
The Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution declares that the Constitution, all laws made in furtherance of the Constitution, and all treaties made under the authority of the United States are the “supreme law of the land” and enjoy legal superiority over any conflicting provision of a state constitution or law.
Examples:
- If a state law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution prevails as the supreme law of the land.
- If a U.S. treaty conflicts with a state law, the treaty prevails as the supreme law of the land.
- If an act of Congress conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution prevails as the supreme law of the land.
These examples illustrate how the supreme law of the land works in practice. It ensures that the U.S. Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws and treaties, providing a consistent and unified legal framework across the country.