What is the supreme law of the land?
By EasySay. Published . Updated .
The supreme law of the land is the Constitution of the United States.
Every other law, federal or state, has to fit inside it. This is question 2 on the 2025 USCIS civics list and question 1 on the 2008 list. It is unofficial practice.
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Practice this question
Unofficial practice
Which answers are accepted?
2025 list, question 2
For an N-400 filed on or after 20 October 2025
(U.S.) Constitution
65/20 set: yes, starred on this list
2008 list, question 1
For an N-400 filed before 20 October 2025
the Constitution
65/20 set: no
We matched the two lists ourselves: USCIS publishes no mapping between the 2008 and 2025 questions.
These are the answers USCIS prints. The 2025 list says there may be other correct answers, and encourages you to answer with the ones it prints.
What does the answer mean?
In the United States, law comes in layers. Congress makes federal laws.
Each state writes its own laws, and cities and counties add local rules. The Constitution sits above every layer.
If a federal, state or local law clashes with it, a court can rule that the law cannot stand. That is why the word supreme is used: nothing outranks the Constitution.
You do not need to explain any of this on the test. One short answer is enough: the Constitution. The Constitution also sets out its own way of being changed, so a new law or a new leader cannot simply override it.
Why does USCIS ask it?
USCIS places this question with the ones about principles of government. It checks that you know where American law begins.
The Constitution sets up Congress, the President and the courts. It protects the rights of the people. So many other civics questions lead back to it.
The phrase comes from the Constitution itself. Article VI says that the Constitution, the laws Congress makes under it, and the country's treaties are the supreme law of the land. It says that judges in every state must follow them.
How the officer asks it
The officer reads the question aloud and you answer aloud, in a word or two. Here you choose from four answers, so say your answer out loud before you pick it. The Constitution is a short, clear answer, and the listed answer is the one to learn.
What are the common wrong answers?
These answers sound close, but none of them is the supreme law.
- The Supreme Court. It is the highest court. It decides what laws mean, but it is not itself the law.
- The Declaration of Independence. It told the world why the colonies left British rule. It is not a set of laws.
- The Bill of Rights. These are the first ten amendments. They are part of the Constitution, not the whole of it.
How can I remember it?
Supreme means highest. Picture a tall stack of law books with one book on top. The title on that book is the Constitution.
Which questions are related?
- What is the rule of law?The idea that laws bind leaders and the government as much as everyone else.
- What does the judicial branch do?The courts: explaining laws, reviewing them, settling disputes and checking them against the Constitution.
Questions people ask
Is the Supreme Court the supreme law of the land?
No. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It decides what laws mean and whether they fit the Constitution. The supreme law is the Constitution itself, not a court.
Is the answer the same on the 2008 and 2025 lists?
Yes. Question 2 on the 2025 list and question 1 on the 2008 list are the same question. The 2008 list prints the Constitution, and the 2025 list prints the same name with U.S. in brackets in front of it.
Can a state law change the Constitution?
No. A state law that clashes with the Constitution can be struck down by a court. The Constitution is changed only through its own process of amendment.
Sources and dates
- 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), form M-1778 (09/25), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), M-1778 (09/25); 128 questions; N-400 filed on or after 20 October 2025. Licence: public information (USCIS), may be distributed or copied. Checked . Passages checked: page 2; page 1. Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov).
- Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version), the 100 civics questions (rev. 08/21), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), rev. 08/21; 100 questions; N-400 filed before 20 October 2025. Licence: public information (USCIS), may be distributed or copied. Checked . Passages checked: page 1. Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov).
- The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Page last reviewed September 8, 2026. Licence: public domain. Checked .
Cite this page
EasySay. "What is the supreme law of the land?". https://easysay.org/us/citizenship-test/questions/supreme-law-of-the-land. Last updated October 22, 2026. Unofficial practice.
https://easysay.org/us/citizenship-test/questions/supreme-law-of-the-land