What is the highest law of the land?

Question

In the U.S. today please.

Answer 1

The Constitution.

Answer 2

It is not correct to say that the United States Constitution is the "highest" law in the land, for the simple reason that the Constitution is not, in itself, law.

The Constitution provides an outline of the organization of the US government, describing how each part of it works and how the various functions are to be ensured and continued, but it does not provide any direct regulatory effect on the American people or way of life.

It is true that no law can be written that conflicts with the constitution, but the constitution does not itself create the law. Each jurisdiction has its own legal code, which is the actual law that tells us what we can and cannot do.

Federal laws are contained in the United States Code, which is enacted and amended by the Congress. No law may be added to the US Code that conflicts with the limits of power and the methods of governance contained in the Constitution. But the congress writes the law.

Similarly, additional laws may exist in each state. The state legislature in each state enacts and amends laws that are applicable only to that state. As with federal laws, no state may enact a law that conflicts with the limits of power and methods of governance stated by the Constitution.

Finally, additional laws, usually called "ordnances," may be enacted and amended by local county and city governments, through the actions of the county commissions and city councils that have local jurisdiction. Again, no local government may enact a law that conflicts with the limits of power and methods of governance stated by the Constitution.

So the answer to your question is that there is no "highest" law of the land in the United States. The Supreme Court is not a "law," but a deliberative body charged under the Constitution with deciding whether a law, if challenged, conforms with the limits of power and methods of governance set forth in the Constitution.

The Supreme Court enforces the Constitution by finding that certain laws conform, or by striking out laws that do not conform. This is deliberation and juridical proof, but it is not, in and of itself, "law."

And the Constitution is not "law," but an administrative framework by which laws are judged.

Each body of law: the US Code, the State General Statutes of each state, and the local ordnances of local bodies, applies in its own jurisdiction, but none of these laws is "higher" or "more powerful" than any other law. They are all equal, and they are all subject to judgment, if challenged, according to the Constitution.

Answer 3

Constitution is the highest law of the land.

Answer 4

Rene B is correct. If you are studying for a citizenship/civics test, the highest law of the land is the Constitution. It is the basis for all federal laws. It contains the Bill of Rights, and sets up the three branches of government. It describes the system of checks and balances of the branches of government. The President, members of Congress, etc. all pledge to uphold and defend the Constitution.

Answer 5

God is as high as anyone could go. But not as many
people follow His law as they used to, and so America
has sunk a little lower as a result. The highest man-made
law would be the Constitution and the Supreme Court.

Answer 6

The Supreme Court.

Answer 7

the Constitution. Wondrous thing.

Answer 8

Whatever a screaming two year old in a crowded store/elevator/airplane wants.

Answer 9

The voters.

Answer 10

Aah, that would be God.