What is the highest law of the land in the United States?

The U.S. Constitution is recognized as the highest law of the land in the United States due to its role as the foundational legal document that establishes the framework of the federal government and outlines the rights of the citizens. It serves as the supreme law, meaning that any laws or actions by the government must align with what is outlined in the Constitution. This principle is established in the Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI of the Constitution, which asserts that the Constitution and federal laws made pursuant to it take precedence over state laws and constitutions.

In contrast, the Bill of Rights, while significant as the first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual liberties, does not serve as a standalone governing document but rather complements the Constitution itself. The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, was a revolutionary document declaring independence from British rule, but it does not function as a governing law for the country. Federal statutes are laws enacted by Congress, but they cannot supersede the Constitution and must be consistent with it to be valid. Thus, the Constitution's primacy in the legal hierarchy is what makes it the highest law of the land.