Which document is known as the supreme law of the United States?

• A. Articles of Confederation
• B. Declaration of Independence
• C. Constitution
• D. Bill of Rights

Answer: (C)

The question is asking which document holds the highest legal authority in the United States. The Constitution is that document. It creates and defines the structure of the federal government—the legislative, executive, and judicial branches—and outlines how laws are made and interpreted. Its authority is bolstered by the Supremacy Clause, which states that federal law is the supreme law of the land and takes precedence over state laws.

Understanding the alternatives helps clarify why the Constitution is supreme. The Articles of Confederation established a loose alliance with a weak central government and were replaced because they didn’t provide enough unity or power to govern effectively. The Declaration of Independence expresses the colonies’ reasons for independence and outlines fundamental rights, but it isn’t a governing framework. The Bill of Rights comprises amendments that protect individual rights within the Constitution; they are important, but they are amendments to the overarching document, not the separate source of national legal authority.