What is the highest law of the land?

• A. The United States Constitution.
• B. The Tennessee Constitution.
• C. The Bill of Rights.
• D. Common law.

Answer: (A)

The highest law of the land is the United States Constitution. It lays out how the federal government is organized and what powers it may or may not exercise. The Supremacy Clause says that the Constitution, along with laws made under it, is the supreme law, so federal law takes precedence over state laws. The Bill of Rights is part of that same Constitution, so it shares that supreme status. A state constitution governs within its own borders and must yield to the federal Constitution when there’s a conflict. Common law, while important as judicial precedent, does not outrank written constitutional law and can be superseded by statutes or amendments.