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What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer
(U.S.) Constitution
What it means
“Supreme” means highest, and “the law of the land” means the law for the whole country. So the question asks: which law is above all other laws in the United States? The answer is the U.S. Constitution.
Every other law, from Congress, a state or a city, must agree with the Constitution. Article VI of the Constitution says this directly. It is called the Supremacy Clause.
If a law goes against the Constitution, the courts can decide that the law is not valid. The Supreme Court has the final word on what the Constitution means, but the Constitution itself is still the supreme law.
The Constitution was written in 1787 in Philadelphia and went into effect in 1789. It has been changed 27 times by amendments.
Common wrong answers
- The Declaration of IndependenceIt is a different document, from 1776. It declared freedom from Britain, but it does not set up the government or its laws.
- The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution: its first ten amendments. The full answer is the Constitution.
- The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court explains the law. The law itself is the Constitution.
- The PresidentThe President must obey the Constitution too. No person is above it.
At the interview
The officer asks the question in English, and you answer out loud in English. You can use your own words: an answer with the same meaning counts. If you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, this question is on your shorter list.
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